Conversation with Johnny
Johnny: Well mum, we were just talking about how God created the world.
Mum: Yes…
Johnny: And, well, women were made second, and God calls them helpers, so they are not as good as boys.
Mum: Hmmmm…
Johnny: And…well you were made out of a man’s rib, and that’s pretty gross.
Mum: I see what you mean there! It could be pretty gross. Tell me Johnny, are you the eldest child in our family?
Johnny: Mum! You know I’m not. Harry is the oldest, then me and then Lucy.
Mum: Well, you were made second. Does that mean you are second best? Is Harry better than you? Do we love Harry the most because he came first?
Johnny: No! You love us the same amount. Sometimes I even think you love Lucy the most, and she’s last!
Mum: You’re right. We love you all – it doesn’t matter whether you came first, second or third, you are still all our children, and we love you all. It is the same for God. Just because he made women second, doesn’t mean he loves them less, or that we are less important. We are just second.
What is interesting is that, in Genesis 1, when the Bible talks about the creating that God did every day it says that God sees that it was good. God likes what he made. But in chapter 2 of Genesis, when he explains more the story of Adam and Eve, God makes the man, and sees that it is not good for him to be alone.
Imagine the great parade of animals that might have gone past Adam, with him naming all the animals. God was showing Adam that no animal was fit to be his helper. Finally, God puts Adam to sleep, and as you said, here is the gross part, takes one of Adam’s ribs and makes a woman to be with the man. But actually that’s not gross at all - it’s really pretty amazing. God is showing us how closely connected the man and the woman are. They are not like animals, but they are like each other.
God talks about the creation of men and women, being very good. The man was alone, and it was not good. He needed someone to work alongside him, and God created the woman and it is very good. Adam and Eve needed to be a team. God didn’t make one better than the other, they were designed to be together. We need both.
Beth is married to Chris, and together they have 8 children ranging in age from 26 to 10. She has spent most of her life in the west of Sydney - mainly the inner west, where she grew up and worked in ministry with her husband, before they moved together to minister in the greater west! As well as partnering with her husband at Grace West Anglican, Beth works as a primary music teacher and is passionate about teaching kids about Jesus.