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A Helper Fit For Him
David R. Ferguson

"It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him" (Genesis 2:18 [RSV]).

It is rare that one finds spiritual wisdom and godly truths in a rock song, but such is the case with a little ditty from 1965 called Game of Love by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. In this tune are found these words: "The purpose of a man is to love a woman, and the purpose of a woman is to love a man. It started long ago back in the Garden of Eden when Adam said to Eve, 'Baby, you're for me!'"

As this song so rightfully declares, God made us to be men and women. He made men to desire women, and He made women to desire men. Adam soon discovered that animals were not a substitute for a wife. God also did not provide another man to be Adam's helpmeet. What God has reserved in the union of marriage between a man and "A Helper Fit For Him" (continued from page one)

a woman is not to be abused by men with men, men with animals, or women with women. Woman was made for man. Men are to desire women, and vice versa. As the words to the song rightfully say, "The purpose of a man is to love a woman, and the purpose of a woman is to love a man." Even more than this, the purpose of both men and women is to "Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man," (Ecclesiastes 12:13 [RSV]).

The answer to man's loneliness was provided by God, and it was one woman. Adam had no one to love, to talk to, or embrace, no one to help or give himself to, no one to comfort and no one to produce others like himself. But God provided. If we are in a married relationship we should be thankful for His provision.

We see the Lord God in Genesis 2 as the first matchmaker in history. God was also the first anesthesiologist. He put Adam in a deep sleep before performing this rib surgery. When Adam awoke, God presented him with a great gift. Adam could see he was like her, but she also differed from him. He had an immediate reaction. It is not unreasonable to conclude that Adam offered the first love poem in history at the initial moment he laid his eyes upon her. "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Genesis 2:23 [RSV]). In Hebrew, "ish" means man and "ishshah" means woman, but "ishshah" can also mean soft and cuddly. It was love at first sight! You might think you could make a more beautiful poem, but this is quite spectacular for the spur of the moment. It is interesting to note that from the first, even before Valentine's Day and Hallmark cards were invented, love expressed itself in poetry. Adam accepted God's gift.

May the Lord bless you!