Mainly for Men: One Flesh

In the second chapter of Genesis, the creation story is given a slightly different spin to that in the first. In this second account God first made the man, Adam, and then the woman Eve, as a helper for Adam.

"But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man." Genesis 2:20-22

In years gone by, many people thought that as a result of Eve being created from Adam’s rib, women had less ribs than men!! Despite other very obvious differences in their bodies to ours, both sexes do indeed have twelve pairs of ribs.

Interestingly, an alternative translation of the Hebrew word used here for rib can also mean side. However, Genesis is not a biological or scientific textbook. However, it is rich in symbolism.

The woman was brought to Adam to be his wife. Being created from Adam’s rib/side illustrates the nature of their future relationship, equal partners sharing life side by side. The woman under the man’s arm to protect her and their children, and romantically close to his heart.

"The man (Adam) said, “This (person or Eve) is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." 
Genesis 2:23-24

This sexual union of a husband and wife is a holy act and a spiritual exercise. The Apostle Paul taught in his letter to the Church at Ephesus that it illustrates that Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it. He also taught in his first letter to the Church at Corinth that except for a special time limited reason, couples should never abstain from each other. More about that in another blog.

So important is physical union in marriage that a valid reason to annul the marriage under English Law and that of many other administrations, is if consummation or sexual union can be proved never ever to have taken place. The couple would then be treated in law as if they had never married.

Each time the couple unite in this way, they reaffirm their love and commitment to each other and create and sustain a very powerful emotional bond between them. Often regarded as a glue that helps to hold a couple together during stormy times, it works to create a stable environment for children to be raised. It is of course the natural way by which children are conceived. When medical issues affect their ability to perform, many couples use creative ways to express their love and commitment for each other.

Jesus referred back to Adam’s comment and taught;
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Mathew 19:5-6

Here, Jesus was warning that no one should separate a married couple. The emotional pain of breaking that sexually generated bond and the upheaval for everyone involved, especially children, can be horrific.

Sadly, the blunt truth is that not all marriages are happy and many end in divorce or separation. Sometimes there is absolutely no alternative and divorce cannot be avoided or is the lesser evil.

People who have been through it say that forgiveness from God, (which is available for the asking), to each other and to themselves formed an essential part of their healing process.

 Adam's Rib trailer,
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