By Kevin R. Schultz

MEMORIES

9-22-2023

Genesis 2:18-24 (NKJV)

18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

  I just listened to my brothers’ Celebration of Life service and two things struck a cord with me. What struck me were two songs that were mentioned,  one was read and the other one was sung, they were Love the People God Gives You (read) and It Is Well (sung).

  The first song is talking about those people God puts in our lives. I remember the first time I saw Karen, well here comes Memory Lane.

  That night I went out to have a couple drinks, shoot some pool, and relax. When I was there shooting pool some girls (friends of Karen and her sister Marla) entered the bar bringing Karen with them, they talked Karen into coming out with them (telling her she needed to get out and relax).

  When our eyes met, both of us knew we would be spending the rest of our lives together. Now that night I couldn’t lose at pool, no matter what I did. I called some of the craziest combos that should not have worked, but did. All I wanted to do was sit down and get to know Karen better.

  In the meantime whenever I got up to take a shot Karen would move her chair closer to mine. I finally just gave up the table and sat down next to Karen and we talked. And as they say the rest is history.

  Now how does God enter into this? Well before I went out that night I had a conversation with God. Now how did I know it was God I was talking to? Simply, I was getting better answers than I could give myself. 

  All that day I was at home feeling sorry for myself thinking about how lonely I was, sure I had my friends but they had their minds on where the next drink was coming from or where the next party was. Or talking about sports which I liked to play but not watching on TV. In short there was not that special person among them. 

  Aah where was I? Oh yes I was sitting there having a pity party and I asked God  if I was ever going to have that special person in my life. I thought I heard a voice saying Genesis 2:18. Well not hearing anything else and being an inpatient person I decided to go out and relax and my future wife walks in the door. As I said earlier our eyes locked and we knew. I know some people do not believe in love at first sight but there she was. If this was not love at first sight then it had to be Jesus talking to both of us at the same time.

  So let us take a look at 

Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)

18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” (some versions say suitable)

  You see God knew who to put in my life and who to put in Karen’s. God also knew when to put us together. I needed someone who was level headed, and who could keep me grounded. Karen needed someone who was going to stick by her side no matter what. You see, two years after we got married Karen had a stroke. God blessed us both with this marriage for you. He knew I would not leave Karen’s side no matter what and Karen would be able to keep me from doing anything foolish. Because of this I know God has blessed this marriage. Also I married a wonderful Christian woman from whom the light of Jesus Christ shines brightly She also knew how to use a cane when needed.

Genesis 2:19-20 (NKJV)

19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 

  Now after Adam named all the animals he still had not found anyone suitable for a helpmate. So God created one. She would be a perfect mate because God created or picked her.

  In Genesis 2:21-22 we see that God creates both Eve and the institution of marriage.

Genesis 2:21-22 (NKJV)

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the 

  Here we see where God took one of Adam’s ribs (please note that God took the rib from Adam’s side) and created Eve with it, and brought her to Adam. This is the first marriage in recorded history. The Father (God) gives away the bride.

  In Genesis 2:23 we see the helpmate gets her name.

23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

  Here Adam calls his helpmate Woman because she was made with his bones and flesh. Adam also gives her the name of Eve. (because she was the mother of all the living)

Genesis 3:20 (NKJV)

Also here is what commentator Matthew Henry says what Eve’s name means…

Easton’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary

life; living, the name given by Adam to his wife (Gen. 3:20; 4:1). The account of her creation is given in Gen. 2:21, 22. The Creator, by declaring that it was not good for man to be alone, and by creating for him a suitable companion, gave sanction to monogamy. The commentator Matthew Henry says: “This companion was taken from his side to signify that she was to be dear unto him as his own flesh. Not from his head, lest she should rule over him; nor from his feet, lest he should tyrannize over her; but from his side, to denote that species of equality which is to subsist in the marriage state.” And again, “That wife that is of God’s making by special grace, and of God’s bringing by special providence, is likely to prove a helpmeet to her husband.” Through the subtle temptation of the serpent she violated the commandment of God by taking of the forbidden fruit, which she gave also unto her husband (1 Tim. 2:13-15; 2 Cor. 11:3). When she gave birth to her first son, she said, “I have gotten a man from the Lord” (R.V., “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord,” Gen. 4:1). Thus she welcomed Cain, as some think, as if he had been the Promised One the “See d of the woman.”

  God has given different tasks to men and women in a marriage. The husband is supposed to be the leader of the household, this does not give him the right to act like a dictator and lord over his wife and kids if any. He should always treat his wife with loving kindness and put her second only to Jesus Christ. Now wives, you need to let your  husbands lead even if you think you know better (which sometimes you do, but I will never admit it). You have to realize that sometimes men need to learn some things the hard way. Husbands, you need to trust your wives, after all God put them in your lives to be your helpmate.

Genesis 2:24

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

  Here we see that God is saying that the husband and wife are to become as one within the marriage. Now the husband leaving his father and mother also holds true to the woman. The marriage consists of three…

1. Jesus Christ who is the head of the church.

Ephesians 5:23b; 5:25

2. The husband

Ephesians 5:23a; 5:25; 5:28-31 

3. The wife

Ephesians 5:22; 5:24

Now I have two questions to ask…

1. Husbands are you willing to give everything up for your wife including your life as Christ did for the church?
2. Wives, are you willing to let your husbands lead?

  Now this to the in-laws (both sides), are you willing to let the husband lead in the marriage? God could be sending them down a different path than you want.

  You can give advice but it would be up to the husband and wife to decide on it.

  Now if you follow these principles in a marriage, God’s principles, you will have a blessed marriage. You see, today 10-26-2023 is my wife and I 43rd anniversary. And 41 of those years were after she had her stroke. Wonderful things happen when you trust in Jesus Christ.