Adam woke up feeling there was something different about him. As he sat beneath the shade of a sprawling fig tree, he noticed a subtle ache just below his chest. A sense of emptiness, as if a piece of him had gone missing.
That evening, God introduced him to his missing rib who joined him by the riverbank. Eve’s beauty was radiant; her smile was like sunlight on water. Adam quickly realized that his missing rib was more than a physical absence; it was a change in the way he perceived the world.
Adam smiled every time Eve laughed. His eyes stared in amazement at her beauty. His thoughts slowed at her suggestions.
Adam found himself hesitating before speaking, searching for words. It seemed more of a blessing than a curse because Eve enjoyed doing most of the talking. The downsize of the transaction was man’s attention span became severely lessened by the loss of his dominant rib.
Eve’s feelings echoed through the Garden as her curiosity pounded Adam with questions. It seemed as if Adam only had two responses. “I do not know” and “I never thought of that.”
In the absence of one rib, Adam discovered a new way of being complete. He experienced the joys of unity, compassion, and creative collaboration.
Adam had a big job: name every animal in Eden. That is when Eve, ever resourceful, decided to help. That is how our world has animals called lions and tigers and ducks, instead of hairy horses, striped cats, and waddling web-foots.
The #1 Textbook recorded all the key details. Even though her memory was perfect, Eve kept a diary of all the stuff between the lines of the Bible verses.
Before we look at some of the recent archeological discoveries from Eve’s diary, let us focus on the important truths from God’s account.
God first revealed Himself to us as the Creator of all things (Genesis 1).
On the sixth day of creation, God created the first man from the dust of the ground and made him a living-being created in the image of God (Genesis 2:7).
God literally breathed life into the man and gave him a soul. The body design inside and out is amazing and still being studied for its magnificent and intricate workings (Psalm 139).
God taught the first man everything. Everything was perfect, but not complete. Then God caused Adam to realize there was no created being like him. He was alone, without a companion. Paradise enjoyment necessitated a companion to share the joy and love.
The perfect man needed a helper (Genesis 2:18).
God took a rib from Adam to create a beautiful companion who rocked his private world with love and conversation. Perhaps, that is why most men love a good rib.
Why did man lose a rib and part of himself as originally created? What really happened to Adam’s rib?
I might not be able to safely say, but I think I can correctly say, theologically speaking, it was because of a woman.
Theologically speaking.
That sounds impressive. Theo-logy is the study of God, His Name, Nature, and Ways. The only source is God’s Word which is God’s self-revelation. Hearing, reading, understanding, and obeying God’s Word is the only way to know God.
What happened next? Comedian Rodney Dangerfield says he got the story straight from Adam’s account.
After God created Adam, Adam came to God and said, “You created all the animals and each one has a mate, but I am alone. Can you create me one also?”
God replied, “Well Adam, I can create a mate for you. It will be the crown of my creation, someone who will serve you, and your every need and desire. The most beautiful and loving creature. She will take care of you always. She will give you all the respect that you deserve.”
“The only thing is, it will cost you an arm and a leg.”
Adam thought for a second and said, “What do you get for a rib?”
No wonder Dangerfield made a career saying, “I just never get any respect!”
What really happened when God provided Adam a companion?
GOD ALREADY HAD A PLAN BEFORE MAN REALIZED HE HAD A PROBLEM.
THAT IS A LESSON FOR ALL OF US TO LEARN WELL.
God already has a plan to turn your problems into greater good. Always. Even the problems you face now and the ones you will face in your tomorrows.
Do not worry or fear. Trust God.
For this writing, the focus is more on HOW God created the woman, not the WHY (Genesis 2:21-22).
God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. God operated on the man and took out a rib which God used to form a woman (Genesis 2:23).
When Adam initially saw Eve, he said those famous words, ’Wow! You complete me!”
I imagine Eve’s first words were, “Do you love me?”
Adam responded, “Of course, Babe. I said, Wow!”
Adam continued, “There is no one else in this world but you.” God told him to stop talking.
It was then that Eve understood she needed to do the talking for both, which led to her second saying, “You had me at Hello.”
Then she followed up with, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”
(All of that is written between the lines of Genesis 2:23-25.)
It was not too long before Eve questioned why Adam could not read between the lines the way she could. Adam used his lost rib as an excuse.
When the first love birds were evicted from Paradise, Adam just wandered around trusting his one less rib gut for directions. He was determined not to ask for directions even if there had been someone else on the road.
Eve took a different route. She took a chip from the missing rib and invented Siri who was programmed with an annoying version of Eve’s voice to harass and correct Adam’s sense of direction.
That also explains why no one has ever found the way back to Paradise.
Adam lost a rib and his home in Paradise.
Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot –(Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi)
Adam and Eve. Why? WHY?
With a missing rib, man started to mess up. Missteps, mistakes, and misgivings are now part of every man’s makeup.
Gardening and relationships are now hard work. Laundry became a necessity. House-hunting causes headaches. Forbidden late-night snacks come with heavy consequences.
What happened? Is the lost rib the missing link to all major male deficiencies? The cause of increased frustration levels in all women?
Men can drive a woman mad, even when she is the backseat driver. We need an answer for man’s mess-ups which force women to plead temporary insanity as the excuse for their emotional responses.
I wish to confirm what medicine has suspected for generations.
There is a reason for a guy’s shortcomings. One does not have to read between the lines to understand the faux pas attached to a man and woman who “paved Paradise and put up a parking lot.”
Faux pas–an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social setting.
Man is a walking, talking faux pas to his assigned companion.
This is not about Love Languages or Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars.
Here is the definitive answer in one simple, yet profound, statement.
The cause of a man’s faux pas and many frustrating shortcomings is THE MISSING RIB.
Who knew that one rib was so important?
When God took way the rib:
- Man lost the ability to read minds. Women now possess exclusivity in that area.
- Man lost the thought process to have a good reason for his actions. When a woman asks a man, “Why?” she already knows there is no reason.
- Man lost any capacity to engage in a meaningful conversation which should not be a shock to any woman.
- Man lost the capability to communicate, listen. and remember. That is why God doubly blessed the opposite sex.
- Man lost the skill to drive without needing directions spoken in a woman’s voice. Women have always dominated communication skills. Siri is a Norwegian word meaning “a beautiful woman who leads you to victory.” The American dialect is more closely affiliated with “Are you kidding me, sir? You are an Idiot!”
- Man lost the potential to think for himself or make any wise independent decisions. One does not have to read between the lines for affirmation.
- Man lost the ability to alter his tone of voice before it comes out of his mouth the first time. If he could only think before talking, but, alas, that too went away with the rib.
Obviously, the lost rib does not prevent man from thoughts of wonder and sarcasm! I offer myself as proof.
For the record, man never had heartburn until after marriage. To be fair, the woman never had a headache until she shared the spare rib.
Adam never had to hear about all the other guys Eve could have married, and she never had to hear about his mother’s cooking. They never had problems with meddling in-laws or books on how to raise children.
I also wonder about when Eve got jealous. Did she count Adam’s ribs while he was asleep?
Archeologists have published excerpts from Eve’s Diary found hidden in ancient tree trunk.
- Adam is always talking to God about the Rams, Bengals, Cardinals, Ravens, Tigers, and something about the future of the Cowboys.
- Adam is still naming things. He just called this furry thing an aardvark. I think Adam just likes to say the word. He named a squirrel “Steve.”
- Adam gave me a tour of the Garden. He told me to stay away from this one tree and not talk to the snake. He just acts as if he is in charge of everything. When I asked him if that meant he would help with the dishes, he acted as if he did not hear me.
- I tried to teach Adam how to dance. I had to check to make sure he did not have two left feet.
- At least the snake talks to me.
- I live with a perfect man in a perfect place with perfect health and perfect provisions. Why am I NOT happy?
- Since Adam is so perfect, why doesn’t he think of something more romantic to say than, “I love you, too.” (Check out the Winsday Bonus attachment: Best Love Quotes in a Movie Game. You might enjoy the LISTEN version.)
Seriously, the #1 Textbook is filled with important truths recorded from those unwritten words first spoken by God to Adam and Eve.
- Imitate God and walk in love just as God loved us (Ephesians 5:1-2).
- Love God and love others (Mark 12:30).
- Love First and Love Most (Ephesians 1:3-4 & in between the lines of every verse from Genesis to Revelation).
God gave man a worthy companion to help him learn and practice those love lines.
Thankfully, God made someone extremely beautiful, wise, and loving with my missing rib.
Now, if someone would just explain to her how to lower her expectations!
EYES UP!
I LOVE HER AND YOU!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
ADAM and EVE MOVIE LOVE QUOTES GAME
Here are some romantic things Eve suggested Adam could say in case God records these things in a book for future generations of movie-goers.
[How many of the movies can you name? Google the correct answers after the game. There is also a LISTEN version https://soundcloud.com/rexblankenship23/adam-and-eve-movie-music-game )
- To me, you are perfect!
- Here’s looking at you, kid!
- I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly.
- Do you want the moon? Just say the word and I will throw a lasso around it and pull it down.
- You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on.
- It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together…and I knew it the very first time I touched you.
- You should be kissed, and often, by someone who knows how.
- Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me. It brought me to you…and I’m thankful for that, Rose.
- My heart is, and always will be, yours.
- I want all of you, forever. You and me. Every day
- I want the fairy tale.
- Love means never having to say you’re sorry.
- If you love someone, you say it, you say it right then, out loud. (Plus I say a Little Prayer for You group song)
- I think I would miss you even if we never met.
- When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
- How do I love you? Let me count the ways...all my life, and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
- It’s like in that moment, the whole universe existed just to bring us together.
- I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of the world alone
- In another life I would really like doing laundry and taxes with you. (English translation)
- We’ll always have Paradise.
HOW DID YOU DO?
0-5 points (You are really romantically out of touch. Throw away the black book on your spouse and watch a good movie together.)
6-10 points (Use one of the romantic quotes in a notecard. Include a gift.)
11-15 points (You are a longtime romantic at heart. Take it to another level.)
16-20 points (You watch too many movies. Read your Bible more.)
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 