Read Genesis 2:18-20- 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.
 
The author illustrates how God brought all the animals before Adam to name them and to see if there was a helper. I can’t help but imagine what that must have been like. Animal by animal coming to Adam, naming it, seeing the purpose, will it be my helper.
 
God bringing the animals before Adam, for what? “helper suitable for him.” What’s interesting is that depending on your translation you will get a variety of phrases. Helper counter-part, helper fit for him, helper as his partner, helper just right for him, or the classic KJV, help meet for him. What’s interesting is that all has the similar idea, but I think it is incomplete.
 
The Hebrew word for help is ezer, which is fine, but the English language doesn’t suffice, especially when you see how it is used in other areas of the Bible. Ezer is used twenty one times as a noun. Notice Deuteronomy 33:26-29, Psalm 33:18-20- We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 121:1-2- 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
What do you see based upon the usage of the word “help” in those passages? It is talking about God as our ezer, our help, it is used in context to military, shield, protection, deliverance, aid.
 
Tim Mackie summarizes it this way. “The word help (ezer) does not mean assistant or helper. Rather, it describes someone who plays the role of the indispensable other without whom the desired good cannot happen.”
 
I know that’s a mouthful, but when it comes to God, creating a “suitable helper”, people in our life, I like that push. “Someone who plays the role of the indispensable other without whom the desired good cannot happen.” Maybe we can see it as our ally, someone who is with us, yes, but in a sense of togetherness for a greater purpose, or desired good.
 
Community is one needs two. Community is togetherness.
 
For instance, check out this quick clip of a guy whose legs gave out, just before crossing the finish line of the Boston marathon. Boston Marathoner finishes with help
 
Which one are you? Are you the one struggling? Maybe not physically, but emotionally, spiritually, relationally, you feel like you have a limp going on. Are you the one that can provide help? Come alongside of someone for the common good.
 
Take that picture of community, one needs two, community is togetherness. Personalize it, how can you see that in your marriage? An ally? Not an enemy? How can you see that in friendship, depth of togetherness for a desired good?
 
God is saying, “He is the ultimate ezer, who gives us ezer, in the form of other people, community, to be an ally in life.” Which, brief side bar. This heightens the tragedy in Genesis 3 when the serpent preys upon, targets the woman, the ezer, the ally. The one provided to rescue is the first one to be attacked or divided from.
 
Why do you think marriages are under attack? Why do you think evil, ra, wants to bring brokenness? Because he knows the intention by which God created humanity, male and female, husband and wife. This, and this alone should give us pause to fight differently for our marriages; in prayer, in communication, in support.
 
Where do you need to come alongside of someone to provide care or assistance? Where do you need to learn the word “help” and ask for help?