Why God Made Eve from Adam’s Side
Picture with me for a moment how this scene unfolds. Adam is lying on the ground in a deep sleep. God taps him on the shoulder and says, “I have someone I want you to meet.” Adam sits up and looks around. There standing just off to the left was the most beautiful creature he had seen among all God’s creation. He rubs his eyes and says, “woe, man!” “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up”. The woman was created from man’s flesh and bones. She was intended to be part of the man. This is the reason God made Eve from Adam’s rib The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 and this is how a husband should love his wife.
Adams Rib
God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. Then He removed one of Adam’s ribs and made Eve. God did not make the woman from the man’s feet, to be beneath him. Nor did He create her from the man’s head to be above him. He created her from the man’s side to be his companion. She was to be his helper, his partner, his confidante.
The Man Leaves and Cleaves
The man leaves his parent’s home physically, to make a home for his wife in a separate location. He now has a new family unit, him and his wife. From the wedding day forward, his wife is first in his life, next to God. She is his top priority, the parents become secondary.
He is united to his wife. In other words, the man leaves his parents, emotionally. They are no longer the ones he runs to when he has a problem. He must first confide in his wife and together they will discuss their options. Then if the advice of experience is needed, they may go to his parents.
The KJV uses the word, “cleave” meaning to “cling to” his wife. To “cling to” would imply that even when they are apart, his soul longs to be with her. To cleave would also include loyalty. That means he would never complain to his parents about his wife’s faults. To criticize his wife to his parents would only serve to divide and drive a wedge between his parents and his wife.
Man and Woman Become One
The marriage act cements their two souls together so that they become one. Being one flesh indicates that what hurts her, will also hurt him. He feels her emotional pain. This does not mean that they don’t each have their own thoughts, emotions, motives, attitudes, and preferences, but that they will work together to make decisions.
Each partner becomes part of the other. In the case of tragically being separated by death, the surviving partner may feel like half of him or her has died. This is also often the experience after a divorce. Even for the one who chose to end the marriage, there is frequently a feeling that half of them is missing, for a period of grieving.
Naked Without Shame
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. They had nothing to hide. Marriage is intended to be a relationship where the two partners can be transparent with each other, or you might say, emotionally naked. There should be nothing that they can’t share with each other. There should be no fear of being judged, criticized, or belittled.
The man is to love his wife the way Christ loves His bride, the church. (Ephesians 5:28) Jesus would never belittle, lecture, or cause her to feel worthless. He would fold her in His loving arms, speak words of encouragement, and help her put the broken pieces back together. This is how a husband should love his wife.
The first Adam
At one time I wondered why God didn’t make Eve the same way He made Adam, forming her from the dust of the ground: breathing the breath of life into her. But as is true of our God, He never does anything without a reason. Everything is designed to fit into His master plan. God’s creation of physical life was a picture of God’s redemption for Spiritual life and Eternal Life.
The first Adam was made to fall into a deep sleep while God removed the rib from his side and closed in the area with new flesh. From this rib, God formed a woman to be Adam’s counterpart. From Adam’s sacrifice, Eve received physical life, and he received his bride.
The second Adam is Jesus. Jesus was hanging, dead on a cross, when one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear. From His side, blood poured out for our forgiveness, which resulted in spiritual life for everyone who is willing to receive it. And one day, through His sacrifice, Jesus will receive His bride, the Church.
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:45, 47(NIV)
God's Portrait
Adam’s bride was to be one with her husband. Their loving relationship was to be a picture of Christ and His bride. Jesus reveals His heart for His bride in a loving prayer in John chapter seventeen– “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am…” (John 17:22-24 NIV)
God made Eve from Adam’s side! What a wonderful portrait of God’s plan for our salvation.
Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be lov. Song of Songs 2:4 (NIV).
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