TOGETHER WITHOUT SHAME

Passage: Genesis 2:18-25

Key verse: 25

NIV

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(A)

19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals(B) and all the birds in the sky.(C) He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called(D) each living creature,(E) that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

But for Adam[a] no suitable helper(F) was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep;(G) and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[b] and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib[c](H) he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;(I)
she shall be called(J) ‘woman,’
    for she was taken out of man.(K)”

24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united(L) to his wife, and they become one flesh.(M)

25 Adam and his wife were both naked,(N) and they felt no shame.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 2:20 Or the man
  2. Genesis 2:21 Or took part of the man’s side
  3. Genesis 2:22 Or part
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; (A)I will make him a helper fit for[a] him.” 19 (B)Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed[b] every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and (C)brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam[c] there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a (D)deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made[d] into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

“This at last is (E)bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
    because she was (F)taken out of Man.”[e]

24 (G)Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 2:18 Or corresponding to; also verse 20
  2. Genesis 2:19 Or And out of the ground the Lord God formed
  3. Genesis 2:20 Or the man
  4. Genesis 2:22 Hebrew built
  5. Genesis 2:23 The Hebrew words for woman (ishshah) and man (ish) sound alike
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

God saw that even with all the beauty and sustenance the earth provided man, and even though work could keep him busy for a very long time, it was not good for the man to be alone. God created man, in his own image, to be in relationship with others, just as God is in relationship with us and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

While pets can offer some meaningful companionship, there is nothing like another human being to share our joys and our sorrows with. We are made to love, and love requires an intimate relationship. Love is the giving and receiving of one another without shame.

God created woman from Adam’s own rib and united them as one flesh. They were both naked and felt no shame. Each of them saw each other for who they truly are, without pretense, without trying to impress or prove their worthiness for each other. They accepted each other with gratitude in being able to share life and their garden home together.

Prayer: Creator God, you are the source of love that we may radiate to others with a genuine and open heart.

One Word: Accept each other in love.