Ok I don’t know boutchu but the Bible can be totally romantic sometimes. Lemme give some context.
Over the past month, I’ve been studying the book of Genesis with my disciple, Michelle, and it has honestly been such a cool experience. Not gonna lie I was a bit wary about studying Genesis, but since it was Michelle’s request, I decided to try it out. Initially, I thought it would be difficult to find lessons to apply to my own life because from what I remembered, it was a pretty straightforward book about creation and Moses that we were taught often as children. And quite frankly, I thought it was going to be super boring.
BUT! As with many things in my life, God surprised me!
Last week, me and Michelle studied Genesis 2, which basically entails the seventh day when God rested from creating and also includes a description of how God formed man and woman. Now, I’ve read this passage so many times and prior to last week, I considered myself pretty well-versed in the creation of man and woman. But I guess I had never critically analyzed this passage word-for-word. So when I did, I was amazed at what I hadn’t noticed before.
In Genesis 2, it tells of how woman was made from man, specifically, from his rib—
“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.” - Genesis 2: 21-22 (ESV)
I had never questioned why woman was made from the man’s rib specifically, I had always just accepted it as a fact. Like “Oh it was probably the easiest way God could make woman,” or “Oh maybe there’s something scientific about it that my non-science brain doesn’t understand.” But our God doesn’t do anything without reason.
According to one commentator, God chose the rib specifically because of its position in the human body. Its position symbolizes 3 things God had intended for woman in her relationship with man.
EQUAL
The rib is located on a human’s side, which means that women were made to be equal to men. Woman was not created from man’s head to rule over him nor was she created from his feet to be stepped on by him. She was made from his side to be his equal.
PROTECTED
The rib is also located under the arm, which means that women were made to be protected by men.
BELOVED
And finally, the rib is located near the heart, which means that women were made to be beloved by men.
The deeply buried hopeless romantic inside of me is squealing!!! Is that not the most romantic thing everrrr?!? I think it’s so lovely + cute + romantic that God’s intention was for women to be lavished with love and care. And I think it’s super cool how meticulous God is in everything and how He actually has a plan for every. single. thing.
SO!
To my ladies:
Know that no matter what the world may tell you, you are utterly precious in God’s eyes. The evidence is there and it is LOUD + CLEAR!
To my guys:
Us ladies need y’all. No matter what the modern world may say about female independence/feminism, the truth is you guys play such an important role in our lives, in making us feel EQUAL, PROTECTED, and BELOVED. And by doing so, y’all are faithfully + obediently carrying out God’s perfectly designed plan.
~jo