Then our text takes an unusual turn. In the
19th and 20th verses of Genesis 2, we have an apparent non sequitur. At first glance these verses seem unrelated to the
18th verse. We've just read that God intends to make a helper for man, next we read that God set Adam to the task of studying the animals. While these verses may initially seem incongruent, consider the divine wisdom at work. Here was the first "premarital counseling session." God had some important insights for Adam before Adam could marry Eve, and these insights went beyond "the birds and the bees."
Advertisement
Certainly one thing God wanted to show Adam was that his wife was entirely unique -- created like himself, unlike the animals. Unfortunately many men have never learned this truth. They treat their wives as if they were capable of handling only life's three "D's": dishes, dustpans, and diapers. Through this premarital counseling session, Adam learned that his greatest need was a partner, not a beast of burden. Adam learned that a woman is not to be treated as a servant whose function begins with and ends with household work. Instead the woman was to be a companion of the man.
In Psychology Today, Robert and Jeanette Lauer report on their extensive research into what contributes most to long-term marital satisfaction. They observe that couples who have the most enduring and happy marriages know and like each other as best friends, they enjoy conversation and they engage in a variety of activities together.3
In this premarital counseling session, the Lord enabled Adam to envision his wife as a partner, as a best friend and life companion. At the same time, the Lord inspired Adam to treat his wife in a loving and caring way. We need only understand God's purpose in creating woman to understand her divinely-intended relationship to man. She is described by God, her Maker, as a "helper fit for man." The preposition for is very important here. It literally means "corresponding to, equal and adequate to." She is a partner corresponding to the man. She is a fitting partner who is his equal in every respect.4
Theologian Paul Jewett notes that the particular Hebrew word for help, used in
verses 18 and 20 to describe a "fitting helper" for man, is never used in the Old Testament to designate a subordinate or a servant. In fact, Jewett observes that it's sometimes used of God Himself, for often the Psalmist speaks of God as our "help" in time of need.5
Here we discover that Adam and Eve were created for each other. They were created equally to bear God's image. They were created equally to share life together. They were created equally for companionship, for partnership and for friendship. Yet, while they were created for each other, Adam and Eve were created uniquely different from each other.