I will make him a suitable helper; ‘it is good.’
It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him, says the Lord. Until now, in the Bible, God has used the phrase “not good.” God has regarded everything he has created up to this point, including the first man, as good or extremely good. Until now, the constructed world has been flawless in form, function, and potential. Something now needed fixing.
The notion that God is now entirely responsible for the state of the world renders this statement particularly thought-provoking. Nevertheless, His angels and the devils were present at the universe’s inception, which took place after the evil spirits fell, as God intended to use the humans He created to impart a lesson to the devils.
For what reason is anything that God made deemed “not good?” And in a lesser sense by God Himself? To put it briefly, only God is flawless. Thus, nothing that is not of God can be perfect. It is not good for man to be alone; He was right.
God’s intention was clear from the very beginning. He did not create humans to live in isolation, even though the woman within the man was not physically visible. His design for humanity is a marriage between a man and a woman, a divine union that predates sin.
It is not good for man to be alone, implying that a woman is forthcoming.
However, the same root word used here for the helper, “ezer,” is frequently employed by God to denote Himself (Psalm 33:20; Psalm 70:5; Psalm 115:9). The woman will be given to the man for his benefit. Just as he will be to her, she is part of God’s provision for him. God intends for a man and a woman to live, work, and walk together.
God’s desire for His people is clear and evident. He wants us to view one another as equals and devoted friends, not as animals. Adam’s ability to name the creatures that God creates, along with his realisation that none fit him well, further illustrates that it is not good for man to be alone.
We all know living examples of “a woman of Proverbs 31” in the Bible: devoted, conscientious, hardworking, clever, and giving. And like every wife of noble character, we know that they, like Sarah, submit themselves to their husbands. She calls her hubby lord, and whoever is fortunate enough to be their husband will appear well in their eyes.
When we speak of suitable helpers according to God’s will for humanity, we refer to women of immense worth in God’s eyes. The holy women who thrived in marriage placed their trust in God. God cherishes and empowers women within His divine plan, from Sarah, the epitome of a faithful woman, to remarkable figures like Rahab and Ruth.
Are you a woman of Proverbs 31, a woman of noble character?
The story of Rahab in the Book of Joshua recounts the remarkable faith of a Canaanite woman who profoundly loved the God of Israel. She ultimately aided the people of God. Later, she worshipped Yahweh and was included in the lineage of the Messiah through Salmon, as it is not good for man to be alone.
Similarly, it is no coincidence that the Hebrew liturgical canon follows Proverbs 31 with the Book of Ruth, attributed to Samuel, to illustrate King David’s divine approval over Saul, using Ruth as an example of a woman of worthy character.
Ruth embodies the woman in Proverbs 31: devoted, conscientious, giving, hardworking, and clever. And will anyone fortunate enough to be the husband of a worthy woman not look good in her eyes? Boaz was what God intended when He said, “I will make a helper suitable for him.” For it is not good for man to be alone.
The Lord could match Ruth with a more suitable partner for a happy marriage. Ruth 2:1 presents Boaz as a “worthy man” at the outset. Gibber hail is a Hebrew phrase that can signify wealth, strength, power, and virtue. Note how Boaz now refers to Ruth as his equal and a “worthy woman.” Proverbs 31 introduces the portion that describes a noblewoman as “Ezeth hail.”
Jehovah Jireh provides and blesses marriage.
The Lord commands us to be fruitful and multiply, to populate the earth, and to rule over all He made. Today, society values the individual more than the clan, which makes it more challenging to comprehend the close bond between a woman and her husband’s family in ancient cultures.
Hesed, often translated as “steadfast love” or “lovingkindness,” is a prominent theme in Ruth’s story. God cherishes family; for example, when He chose Moses to meet Pharaoh, He included Aaron and later Aaron’s sons.
In the Bible, God views marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman, a permanent bond, and a reflection of Christ’s love for the Church. It is not merely a human agreement but a covenant ordained by God, intended to serve as a source of profound love, support, and unity. Hence, He stated it is not good for man to be alone.
Genesis 2:24 says, “A man will leave his father’s house and go to the woman and become one”, which serves as a foundational text in the Bible regarding marriage and the concept of “one flesh”. This verse is also referenced in Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, and Ephesians.
This verse refers to the concept of marriage and the significance of the marital bond over other family ties, particularly the bond with one’s parents. That is why the Pharisees are testing Him and attempting to catch Him off guard.
God created people as male and female; pray for a suitable partner.
They want Him to express something controversial regarding the highly divisive issue of divorce. They hope that any response He gives will undermine His popularity and, perhaps, provide them grounds to label Him a heretic (Matthew 19:1-4).
In responding to them, Jesus quotes from Genesis 1:27, stating that God created people as male and female. He then references Genesis 2:24, which describes a man and a woman becoming bound together in marriage.
Jesus, of course, understands that the Pharisees have read these passages. His point is that those who treat divorce lightly do not appreciate what God has revealed or bestowed upon them. Nonetheless, Jesus illustrates that God established marriage from the very beginning of creation.
It is inherent in the design of humanity as men and women. Marriage is more than simply two people coming together to share their lives; it is the union of two individuals into one flesh. This occurs, in part, through sex, but also the commitment embedded in the marriage connection.
Psalm 25:14 states, “The Lord confides in those who fear Him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise.” As the Good News Translation rightly puts it, “The LORD is the friend of those who obey him, and he affirms his covenant with them.”
Ruth embodies these qualities, deserving of God’s promise, which will manifest in every suitable marriage, as we know that God is the only hope for blessing the man or woman who loves Him.
