Genesis 2:18-24 - Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 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. Then the man said, “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.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

In Genesis 2, we read the beautiful account of God creating woman to be a helper and companion for Adam. Out of Adam's rib, God forms Eve, declaring that man and woman shall become one flesh in marriage. This first marriage was perfect, with no shame between the man and woman. We see that God intended marriage to be a sacred union between a man and woman that brings them together as one in body, soul, and spirit.

The marriage between Adam and Eve reflects God's ideal for all marriages - a holy covenant between one man and one woman. In their union, we see that God created man and woman to complement one another physically, emotionally and spiritually. Eve was created as a 'helper fit for' Adam, meaning she was perfectly suited to meet his needs. And Adam recognized Eve as 'bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh', declaring their essential oneness. As Jesus later affirmed, in marriage 'the two become one flesh' through the profound mystery of two separate beings uniting in body, heart and mind by God's design. Yet we live in a fallen world where marriages struggle and sometimes fail. Selfishness, miscommunication, unmet expectations and sin damage even the strongest of unions over time. We must cling to God's purpose for marriage revealed in Genesis 2 - that it is meant to be an intimate companionship of mutual love, respect, sacrifice, support and service to God. When centered on Christ, He can redeem and restore broken marriages and use them powerfully for His glory.

Heavenly Father, we praise You for creating and ordaining the gift of marriage from the very beginning. Thank You for making men and women to complement each other and become one flesh. Forgive us for the ways we have distorted Your pattern, Lord. Heal and restore struggling marriages that they may reflect Your love for the church. And for those longing to be married, we ask You to guide them to a godly spouse. May all marriages be rooted in Your Word and empowered by Your Spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.