Animalia
male and female he created them Genesis 1:27
Male and Female – The difference between human beings and animals is so important to our entire perspective that it cannot be overemphasized. The world teaches that we are merely a higher evolution of animals, not distinctly different in origin or essence. The Bible has a very different perspective. The Bible doesn’t debate the proposed theory of evolution. That simply isn’t important from a biblical point of view. What is important is the deliberate connection between Man and God. There is no doubt about our connection with the rest of creation. We are made of the same stuff as the earth. But notice that God forms Man from the ground, not from the animal chain. God animates that earthly connection with His own breath. Man is the only created being with a built-in bond between heaven and earth. To be human is to recognize, nourish and exhibit this dual relationship.
The Bible says that Man was created male and female. This too is important. While it is obvious that gender is part of the other created orders, the Bible only makes this deliberate point about gender when it comes to human beings. Why? Why not just say (like the other creations) that Man was created after its kind? The Bible specifies the gender of Man because sex is sacred. It is not like the reproductive instinct of the animals. Human sexuality has a spiritual component. Of course, it is possible to ignore this component and act like animals, but that is not the way we were created. Anyone who spends time reading about the careful and deliberate creation of the woman knows that her creation is not focused on reproduction. Male and female together bring about something vital to God’s plan. Nahum Sarna points out that human sexuality is on a completely different order than sexuality among the animals. It is a gift from God. Properly understood and properly enacted, it cannot be anything but spiritual and good. God made it that way. Sarna points out that this is the reason that sexual perversion is so offensive to God. Perversion is corruption of the very nature of Man, a degradation of God’s breath in our human form.
The Hebrew words for male and female are zakar and neqevah. The pictograph for male is the combination of weapon, open hand and person. Perhaps the imagery tells us that a man is either friend or foe. His nature is to provide and defend. Neqevah paints the picture of beholding the final life in the house. The woman is the final source of life in the house. She continues the legacy. These roles are part of the Hebrew design. Man and woman bring about God’s redemptive plan together. Together they are given the assignment to multiply, steward and oversee the earth. Together they are to bring God’s image to bear on the rest of creation. Together they are His regents. None of these assignments, including procreation, are animal actions.
God made us different. Evolutionary theory attempts to make human beings the same. God doesn’t see it that way. We are connected, but we are not contiguous. Our life has not evolved. The real implication of Darwin’s thought is devolution, the transference and reduction of the divine breath to natural respiration. Once we start sliding down that path, all of God’s intentions are reduced to survival necessity. We can become animals if we try, but God intends us to become human – and He is anxious to help in that process.
Today you can rejoice in your humanity and your sexuality. God made you. Your breath is His sign of your significance to Him. Today you can be more human than you were yesterday by breathing a little deeper. Inhale His goodness.
Topical Index: sexuality, male, female, Genesis 1:27, zakar, neqevah, evolution
Evolution contradicts the natural laws of entropy.
I Like the notion of God Breathing life into humans just like he breathes life into His word (2Tim 3:16).
It is interesting that in Hebrew all nouns are either masculine or feminie (there is no neuter). In general nouns are divided in how they act. Their roles define them- masculine nouns ‘initiate’, and feminine nouns ‘respond’. Body parts that are single tend to be masculine, and paired body parts tend to be feminine.
“Zakar” (male) comes from the same Hebrew verb “zakar”. “Zakar” as a verb is most commonly translated into “remember”, which loses out in translation. It would be better translated as ‘speaking or acting in behalf of’- like when the Holy One “remembered the children of Israel” prior to sending Moses after them; or like when Joseph asked the Cup-bearer to “remember me before Pharaoh”. As “protector and provider” the male role is to ‘speak or act in behalf of’ the female (which is where Adam failed in the Garden with the serpent).
YHWH both initiates and responds- which is why it is only when the ‘zakar’ and the ‘neqebah’ fulfill their roles together that they truely reflect the image of the Creator! o/o/o/
Tom, that “response” is a keeper. Looking forward to some more posts. Skip, this is a super-mondo idea. What happens when the free-flow of ideas from Spirit indwelt and Spirit-led people meet and meld? G-d is glorifed,the “church” is edified, and we are satisfied. Blessed be Hashem.
Thanks for posting that Tom.
when Adonai revealed this to me, that proper sexuality between man and wife is sacred and ‘kosher’, it greatly improved my married life…and I found it perfectly correct to thank my Father in heaven afterwards. Thank you Skip for loving this work Adonai has given you!