Thoughts for the Day
Thursday, 11th February 2021: Genesis 4: Man and women are created
Genesis 1 Genesis 2 Genesis 3 Adam and Eve Creation God
Reading : Verses from Genesis, Chapter 2
Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.' So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field, but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept then he took one of his ribs and closed up the 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.
(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)
Thoughts
We have seen that these picture-stories in Genesis have meaning today (see 'Genesis 1: What does it mean', above), although men and women evolved over millions of years. This wonderful story, written by the second writer of the Creation story (see 'Genesis 2' above) still has something to teach us today.
We were made for partnership with another human being. During the pandemic we have been reminded of this, with many people living on their own for months. If you don't live alone, can you imagine what it's like to be alone for weeks on end; not to be able to touch someone or receive a cuddle; or speak face to face with no mask to a friend? I can see why Robinson Crusoe must have walked around his island talking to himself!
But if we are made for partnership with someone else, then we need to accept that this can bring problems. We must learn to meld our needs and wishes with those of someone else. Our desires are not necessarily the most important, and this is a lesson we must all learn.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You made us for life with others,
as well as with You.
May we continue to learn
the lesson that we are not
the only person in the world,
and our wishes are not
always of paramount importance.
Help us to make good relationships
with You and with others.
Amen.
You might like to look up this site to think about ways of living harmoniously with other people. It has some good thoughts, in words and pictures, although you will need to adapt these for a pandemic (ie ring people rather than meet with them maybe?):