Tuesday, 4 November 2014
For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 1 Corinthians 11:8
The details of the creation of man and the subsequent creation of woman from man are recorded in Genesis chapter 2. They confirm points which are pertinent to Paul’s argument. Man was created first by God, directly from the dust of the earth. After this, woman was created for the help and benefit of man. Her creation came about from man, not from the dust of the earth. And her creation was not for her own benefit, but for the benefit of the man.
Three citations from that Genesis account will show this –
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7
“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.'” Genesis 2:18
“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.” Genesis 2:21, 22
It can be seen then that just as Eve stood in relation to Adam, all women stand in a general relationship to all men. In other words, there is order even in this issue which prompts thought and implies a hierarchy.
Life application: The Bible progressively reveals truths which are to be applied in a logical sequence in order to properly grasp what God is doing in redemptive history. Taking things out of that logical order will inevitably lead to disorder. For example, societal breakdown can be directly tied to not following the patriarchal system of family rule. When the father is removed from family headship, all of society suffers. Paying attention to what God has ordained will keep individuals, families, societies, and even the state of man on earth in proper functioning order and in a right relationship with God.
Wondrous heavenly Father, thank you for the sweetness of honey, the wonderful flavor of salt, the hot spices of peppers, the nourishing milk of the cow, and the delightful juice of the grape. Thank You for the immense number of fruits, the many types of grain, and the different flavors of fish and meat. Everything has been arranged to fill us with enjoyment and variety in order to get us to think through what a great and generous God You are. And so today, I want to acknowledge how grateful I am for all the wondrous flavors which excite my taste buds. And Lord, thank You for pistachio nuts too. Amen.