The Design of Marriage

In the beginning of Genesis, God lays down the framework for everything that exists. This includes the material, spiritual, and relational realms. As creation was taking form it was continually described, “And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). But continuing on, one verse stands out in stark contrast to the rest.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:18

What does this statement mean? Had God made a mistake when creating Adam? Was the original creation flawed? Is marriage a solution for the failures of the original design for man?

In The Truth Project Dr. Del Tackett refers to this as “The Divine Pause.” God knew his plans for the world, and his creation had not yet been completed. This was not a fault in the original design, but rather a clarification. Genesis 2:18 serves as a beacon so that the significance and design of marriage is not overlooked. Immediately, woman is created and then follows the iconic description of marriage.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

For millennia readers of scripture have stopped here and accepted the helpful description of marriage. But that is not all that this verse describes. It took over a thousand years after this initial writing before Paul clarified it, but in his letter to the church at Ephesus Paul expands on God’s original words.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:31-32 (KJV)

God was not simply bestowing his blessing of marriage in Genesis 2. He was describing his own relationship with us. He was providing a model and a tool that would point us not only to each other, but to a deeper understanding of our relationship with God himself.