For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
Summary: If we visualize Adam and Eve as pieces of God’s puzzle picture called “Creation,” we begin to see ourselves as part of something truly beautiful.
Paul’s words in verse thirteen are a “puzzle.” If all the pieces are there, the puzzle makes sense. If not, then Paul’s words don’t make sense, either.
In the beginning, God created man and gave him a job to do:
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15)
The “puzzle piece” that was Adam had a place in the world. He had a relationship with God (Genesis 3:8), and he cared for the animals (Genesis 1:26).
God and the man he created had a relationship. The man had a perfect place to live, and God gave him authority over all living things (Genesis 1:26).
These pieces fit together nicely! God the Creator, Man the one created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26), and the creatures for Man to rule over.
Then God made more puzzle pieces.
He made a helper for the man out of the man’s flesh, and called her a woman. These two pieces fit together well.
Like the man, the woman was given authority over certain things. Returning to Proverbs 31, we see the broad range of responsibilities that the “wife of noble character” is responsible for — another puzzle piece.
In a perfect world, all these pieces fit together seamlessly. Areas of responsibility overlap but do not conflict. There is plenty for each puzzle piece to do, and most importantly, there is peace between the pieces.
Enter the serpent.
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1)
Suddenly, Eve is questioning her part of the puzzle. Does she really have to fit in the way she was made to fit, or can she be more?
Adam, too, is enticed to rebel against God and eat the forbidden fruit. He, too, has declared that he is not content to be what God made him to be.
After Christ’s resurrection, Adam and Eve’s descendants are invited back into a relationship with God, the original puzzle piece. Somehow, through the blood of Christ, we can be made whole again. Once again, we can “fit in.”
It is hard, though. We have spent our entire lives living for ourselves. Freedom was being a puzzle piece without a puzzle to fit into. Yet, that kind of “freedom” was lonely. We were made to be connected to our God.
To fit into God’s puzzle picture, we have to submit — that is, admit that we are just a piece of the puzzle, not the whole thing. That can be hard, but it is very much worthwhile.
Application: Become part of God’s puzzle again.
Food for Thought: Why is it so hard to accept the puzzle picture God wants us to be part of?
Why is it so hard to accept the puzzle picture God wants us to be part of?
I think first off, we don’t understand the entire puzzle, and therefore we must trust God’s infinite wisdom and knowledge; that He alone sees the “whole picture” and guides us through His Spirit.
Isaiah 55:8–9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Secondly, we struggle to relinquish control and submit to His authority and purpose for our lives. We tend to think we know best, not remembering that it is the Lord that has established our steps.
Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Thirdly, in submitting to God’s authority and purpose, in relinquishing control of our own plans, we must trust in Him completely. We tend to be impatient and look for signs that we are “on the right path” rather than simply listening to the Holy Spirit for “the next step.”
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Thank you, Chris!
Well said. Admitting we don’t understand the whole puzzle is hard! Trusting ourselves to know what is right makes it hard to trust God. We can’t go two directions at once! 🙂