October 12, 2020
Genesis 2:18
“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him a helper fit for him.’”
The creation narrative in Genesis is filled with things that God did that are “good.” God created light, and it was “good.” And so was the dry land, the sky and on and on.
Now in the midst of Eden, where the man had direct fellowship with God – we are suddenly smacked with 2:18. Apparently, direct fellowship with God is not enough. We come – in shocking contrast to all these “good” things – to something that is “not good.” …The man was alone. I don’t know how many times I have read that passage and not realized the “good/not good” contrast until I was reading a book the other day and it was pointed out to me. Scripture is always fresh.
From the beginning, God made us to be in fellowship with Him. One of the elements that is easily overlooked is that this fellowship necessarily entails other people (else we are “alone”). To paraphrase author Donald Fairbairn, the relationship between the Father, Son and Spirit is so precious that God created us in His image – that is, He wanted us to share in similar fellowship. He made us to share not only in God but also with one another. Put another way, from the very beginning human life was rooted in Trinitarian life. Nurturing and growing in life-giving relationships is a challenging journey that takes our entire life. Yet, it is truly “good.”
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Father, we lift up to you First Presbyterian Church. Thank you for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to share in love and life for one another even as your share perfect love within the Godhead. May we be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Help us to share in what is Good, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
