Today we consider what Dennis Rainey in ‘Preparing for Marriage’ called ‘a cornerstone principle of marriage’. In Genesis 2:18 God said that; ‘it is not good for man to be alone, I will make him a companion, his equal who will help him’.

The Bible tells us that God then created many animals and birds and He presented them to the man. As God’s custodian Adam named them all, but we read in verse 20; ‘ ...not one of them was a suitable companion to help him’.

God then put Adam in a deep sleep and created in the man’s images someone equal, beautiful, and yet so different. When God presented her to the man, Adam was excited and amazed; ‘At last’, he said ‘bone from my bone and flesh from my flesh…’ – my companion, my equal – and he called her women!

The woman was God’s perfect provision for a companion to Adam. By receiving and accepting the woman as God’s gift the man demonstrated his faith in God’s integrity!

Adam’s focus was therefore on God’s flawless character, not on the woman’s looks or performance! This cornerstone principle has never changed – marriage still implies for a husband and wife with to accept your spouse as God’s perfect provision for you.