The Creation of Woman, Part Two

A Devotional Series from Genesis

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

3/9 Reading Portions: Exodus 20; Luke 23; Job 38; 2 Corinthians 8

Genesis 2:21-22

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man.

SIDE

While there are a great many details we can uncover from these two verses, today we will only concentrate upon a few. First, the word rib (Gen 2:22) comes from the Hebrew root צֵלָע (tzā-LAW), which literally means “curve” or “side.” Since our text also states that YHVH God “took one of his ribs” (Gen 2:21), it may very well be a rib that was taken from the man.

Now, I’ve heard many a time the quaint illustration that God had taken woman from man’s side, not from his head that she might lord it over man, not from under his feet that man might lord it over woman, but from his side, so that they would continue together side-by-side. As nice as this sounds, it can only be true as long as Jesus Messiah, as Lord of all, is acknowledged by and surrendered to by the man and woman because of that truth—that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. These two verses are given, most importantly, to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of His beloved bride, His church. It is written:

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. Ephesians 5:23

Our text states that YHVH God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man. This foreshadowed the death of the Lord Jesus upon the cross, ordained by our sovereign God for the redemption of His people. Again, it is written:

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, Ephesians 5:25

Moreover, the reason the first woman was taken from the side of the man was because it signified the death of Christ Jesus upon the cross, as it is written:

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. John 19:34-35

It was not Luke, the beloved physician that gave us this information with regard to Christ’s death, but John, the beloved apostle who was eyewitness to Christ’s death. Again, it is written:

that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26-27

Hallelujah! What a Savior!