The Institution Of Marriage

Genesis 2:18-25

Before creating animal life, God created everything they would need for survival. Air, water and plants were readily available, as were the dry land or water they needed to live on or in. Although man was a special animal, created in the likeness of God in his mental capacity and spirit, all his essential physical needs had been supplied as well. Because man was different than the animals, he had other needs than just the physical.

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

Most animals have a need for companionship with their own kind to some degree for their emotional health. A lack of proper socialization results in psychological problems and anti social behavior. Almost everyone has observed the frenzied barking and aggressive behavior, or of abject fear of a dog who is alone most of the time, while roosters and stallions who are constantly shut up from the rest of their become dangerously aggressive and abnormal in their approach to others. At the same time, Animals forced into too close proximity for long periods begin to attack each other, in an attempt to achieve necessary privacy. Anyone who has been around a large chicken or hog raising operation can describe instances and abnormal behavior that result.

Much of the antisocial behavior of young people today is the result of being isolated at home and then thrust into abnormally large groups before they are emotionally prepared. They have not learned to properly relate to other people, and become either overly aggressive, or emotionally withdrawn. Sadly, we have become so accustomed to the abnormal behavior it is often accepted as normal. Recognizing the emotional needs, God proceeded to make a creature uniquely designed to meet those emotional needs. The help meet means literally a helper fitted to his needs. Just as a specialist in heart surgery may partner with a diet specialist because they specialize in areas he cannot do effectively, the concept of a help meet is of one who brings other valuable abilities that the man cannot perform effectively.

“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:19-20)

Dogs are often called “man’s best friend”, and kept to meet the emotional needs. Bringing all the other animals that had been created demonstrated that none of the other animals could completely meet man’s emotional needs. Millions of dollars are spent in the United States today on pets in an attempt to fulfill emotional needs using them. It is producing a nation of psychologically abnormal people and pets. A special being was required to meet man’s needs.

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” (Genesis 2:21-22)

Man was created from the dust and the woman was created from the man’s flesh. As such she has the same physical needs and abilities as man. She is also capable of meeting the reproductive needs, of having babies. Unfortunately, many have been led to believe that is the only area that matters. The effects are visible throughout our society, from promiscuous sex and homosexual activity to gang violence and shooting sprees. Normal relationships are not being developed.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:23-24)

Adam recognized that the woman was man’s equal. She was created specifically to meet the emotional deficiencies he had. They were to separate from their parents and obtain emotional support and fulfillment from each other, to become one flesh, one entity. The modern psychological term “codependence” is a distorted view of what they are to become. In Proverbs 31, we find that each should be free to function independently, yet always in concert, like two musicians playing different parts of a song to produce something wonderful. If they begin to compete with each other, the harmony turns to discord.

Quoting this passage in Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus made it clear that marriage is not the result of a human ceremony but of God’s action, and neither state or church have authority over it. “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Quoting the same passage, I Corinthians 6:15-16 makes it clear that this joining or bonding by God automatically results from the sex act. “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.” As a result, Exodus 22:16 commands, “And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.” She was to be acknowledged as his wife even if her parents refused to let her live with him.

The emotional bonding resulting from the sex act is so strong that a separation or divorce causes as much emotional distress as losing an arm or leg. It is not something to be treated lightly. The present flippant attitude toward divorce and promiscuity has left a lot of emotionally crippled people. This includes both the parties involved, and their children.

“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:25)

This last verse reveals the lack of self consciousness and concern about appearances the natural man, as created by God had. Man’s sin will destroy that innocence and freedom, as we see in the next chapter.