Ep. 2. Genesis 2 | Rest and Marriage
EPISODE 2
REST AND MARRIAGE
Episode two has so many beautiful things for us to consider, but three stand out. We have introduced, to us, the Sabbath rest, the Tree of Life, and the marriage covenant. All three of these things will reach through the pages of the Bible and land squarely on the person and work of Jesus.
When we consider the Sabbath rest, especially its introduction here in Genesis two, it will help us to look at Hebrews chapters three and four. In these two chapters, we see the author discussing the people of God's inability to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. They cannot enter the "rest" because of disobedience, disbelief, and lack of faith. But the author notes that a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. If Joshua had given God's people rest when he led them into the Promised Land, then David would not have written about another "rest" in Psalm 95. There is still a rest available to the people of the world today. We have been invited to rest from all our works (for salvation) as God also rested from all his works on the seventh day. If those who hear the good news of Jesus proclaimed to them would believe the truth of the message by faith, they will enter the rest of God and finally be free from their works as a standard of righteousness. It makes a lot more sense when you consider that Hebrews was written to Jews who were using the works of the Law as the standard for righteousness rather than faith in the finished work of God through Christ. There is doubtless much more to say on this topic, but I can't turn this blog post into a book at this time.
I'll take more time on the Tree of Life tomorrow, so let's focus on the marriage covenant. Marriage, rightly enjoyed for the glory of God, is an overwhelming blessing. God inaugurates marriage in Genesis two, but we must be careful not to miss the overarching biblical implications. We know from Matthew 22 that we are neither married nor given in marriage in the days of the resurrection. That makes earthly marriage a temporary engagement. Our marriages will come to an end at death or at the return of Christ, but the human covenant of marriage does not make it into the kingdom of heaven. So why does God establish it here? The answer is simple: God uses earthly marriage as an analogy to the gospel of Jesus. When we read Ephesians 5, we see that a husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, and a woman is to submit to her husband as the church does to Christ. In talking about earthly marriage, Paul says it is a great mystery and that he is actually referring to Christ and the church. Paul is concerned about earthly marriage in so far as it points to the spiritual union between Christ and believers. We find here in Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 6 a reference back to Genesis 2. We who have put faith in Christ have become one spirit with him. So also, the physical union of husband and wife signifies this union with Christ by making the married couple into "one flesh." When we view our marriages as pictures of the gospel of Jesus, it better safeguards our marriage from sin and brokenness. We don't get to engage in marriage for our benefit, though there are certainly benefits and blessings in it; instead, we engage in marriage to allow our lives to proclaim the beauty of the gospel correctly. The church (the bride) has been loved and redeemed by Christ (the husband), and the last days will have the two joined together in the marriage supper of the lamb.
Other minor things of note in this episode: "These are the generations" is a phrase usually denoting a rewind of the story. It is going to take us back and give us more detail.
Repetition in the Hebrew language and storytelling is deliberate to show the importance of a matter. Consider that every significant theme of the Bible has an earthly telling and then a spiritual fulfillment in Jesus. The double telling is everywhere and will become more evident as you read the Bible.
The "helper" suitable to Adam denotes that Eve is how God will bring his help to Adam. It is beautiful, and every time this word is used throughout the OT, it indicates God's divine help.
Did it rain on the earth before the flood? We don't know. We know that 1656 years passed between Genesis 2 and the great flood of Genesis 7. We know that at the time of the creation of Adam, it had not rained. We know that it rained in the days of Noah. The Bible is silent about the 1656 years between.
Additional reading: Hebrews 3 and 4, Psalm 95, Job 34:14-15, Psalm 121:1-2, Psalm 115, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 146:5, Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Corinthians 6: 12-17, Matthew 22:23-31, Revelation 19:6-9
