The Lord God said - "I will make a helper like him"

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

It's certainly not a coincidence that the first time Elohim expresses a personal interest in the man they created...the name Yahweh (Lord) is used. Long before the name was known to Moses as the personal God of Israel, it existed in the mind of Elohim because...from the very beginning God was interested in our personal welfare.

The very first words of concern our Lord God has for us is that we are people meant to live in community. "It is not good for the man (Hadam) to be alone".  The term "Suitable Helper" (ְֶֹּֽ עֵ֖זֶר כְּנֶגְדּֽוֹ) is translated by Keil-Delitzsch as "a help of his likeness". In other words, God created someone just like Adam to partner with him in fulfilling God's plans. This is borne out by the fact that they were of one substance since Eve was created from the rib of Adam...his very own flesh and bone. In all respects, Eve was in the "likeness" of Adam.

Before Sin broke God's perfect creation...Adam and Eve were the same.

Eve's first, and most important task as a "helper" was to partner with Adam in perpetuating the human race. Adam could not do this alone. In this respect, the only distinction between the two was anatomical...not substantive. A distinction without a difference. Adam also required help in subduing the earth...work that often required more than one set of hands and one brain. Collaboration, mentally and physically, was critical to Humankind fulfilling its destiny.

After the fall, their roles and distinctions were altered significantly. Men and women have existed with some level of conflict ever since. And, of course, Man has always managed to Lord it over woman...even though God never made man "Yahweh". How can community thrive with such dysfunction?

The Lord God said it; oour wife, sister, mother, or daughter is created just the same as her male relatives. Our cardinal question is evident...and fundamental to how we might expect God to deal with us in other matters...how am I treating the helper that is "like me"?

Live boldly out there today...