What Only God Can Do
How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman protects a man. Jeremiah 31:22
Created – The Hebrew root br’ is the verb translated “create.” It is quite unusual. Of the 49 occurrences in the Old Testament, this verb is the exclusive domain of God whenever a creative act occurs. Human beings never create with br’. All human creation is described by other Hebrew verbs, usually ashah.
Why is this important? Because the Hebrew mind has a very different view of creation than the modern world. In the Hebrew view, all new creation is the direct work of God. This is not limited to physical creation. God is the author of history, culture and all creative interrelationships. That’s what it means when we say that God is sovereign. God continuously brings into being newness of life, events and circumstances. What God did in the original creation set the stage for all future development. His initial creative acts determined all that followed by setting into place an order that is now built into existence. This mindset stands behind Jeremiah’s revolutionary proclamation.
“A woman protects a man.” From any human point of view, this seems contrary to the established order of the universe. But Jeremiah tells us that God creates (bara’) this new thing. Since it has the divine stamp of approval, it cannot be questioned, doubted or ignored. This is a God-thing, and the world better pay attention. Only God has the ability and the right to overturn what seems to be standard operating procedure. Only God could change what appears to be an indelible fact of existence. Now that He has done so, we must ask: What does this mean for me?
God’s creative acts are acts that establish boundaries and bonds. Re-read Genesis 1 and pay attention to the way God creates. He brings order and boundaries to each new level of existence. He creates bonds between the levels and establishes restrictions on each level. Sin seeks to undo these boundaries and bonds, and thus, destroy God’s creative acts. With this in mind, consider once again the creation of woman (Genesis 2:18-25). How does the creation of woman establish boundaries and bonds? What role does the woman play that could not be fulfilled by any other part of creation? If Adam has God in the Garden, why does he need a helpmate? Once you have answered these questions, then ask yourself what happens to the boundaries and bonds when Eve sins?
And finally, “How does your relationship to the helpmate God brought you (remember His sovereignty?) reflect His original boundaries and bonds?”
