“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 2:22
God made woman from the rib taken from man. Obviously, with the creation of Adam, He didn’t need his rib in order to create another person, yet God chose to take a part of him to create her, Eve.
“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” (Genesis 2:21).
Did God explain to Adam what He was going to do before He put him into a deep sleep? Or was Adam completely surprised when he woke up to find Eve by his side? By his response, he must have been told at some time what God did and how Eve came to be.
“The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,” for she was taken out of man’” (Genesis 2:23).
Does God Count Women as Lesser Than?
Some women ignore this biblical truth, thinking it makes them seem lesser than men. They skip over verses like 1 Corinthians 11:8’s reminder, “For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.”
As well as brushing over 1 Corinthians 11:7, it discusses how, “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.”
However these verses aren’t lessening a woman’s value, but rather referring to the order of creation because God makes us co-heirs with men, as explained in Galatians 3:28, 29. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
One Race Created Under God
So why did it matter if Eve came from Adam? And why does it still matter today?
Taking Adam’s rib to make Eve created one human race, making it possible for man to have offspring that would lead to the birth of Jesus, whereas Messiah, He could die for the sins of the entire race.
Creating Eve from Adam, also provided God’s protection over humankind and paved the way for Jesus to come in human form to be the Savior of the world.
Why Are Men Accredited for Sin?
Most of us know the biblical story of how Eve was tempted by the serpent and ate the forbidden fruit, then passed it on to Adam to eat (Genesis 3:6). Still, Scripture ascribes the first act of sinning to the man, not woman.
Romans 5:12 explains, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
Man carries the responsibility for original sin, the first sinful act against God. Sin is passed on to all his offspring through his bloodline.
The Importance of Man-Held Accountable
Because man passes sin down through his bloodline, a human man could not father a sinless Savior. Still, Jesus could be born through Mary, a virgin, conceived through the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High.
As the angel Gabriel told Mary in Luke 1:31, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call Him Jesus.”
As a virgin, Mary didn’t know how conception could be possible, asking “’How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’”(Luke 1:34).
Luke 1:35 explains, “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’”
1 John 3:5 describes how only a sinless Savior could save us from our sins: “But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father, thank You for Your provision and protection over humankind through Your design of man and woman. Before we even sinned, You made a way for us to be reconciled to You. We praise you for the miraculous birth of Jesus and for the forgiveness of sin we receive through His death and resurrection.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Motortion
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Looking for authentic conversations about how to deal with body image, insecurity, and comparison issues as a Christian woman? The Compared to Who? Podcast is the show for you! Twice a week, we tackle tough topics like dieting, disordered eating, weight loss, aging, body dysmorphia, and more from a practical, grace-filled, gospel-centered perspective.
Originally published Thursday, 05 October 2023.
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