God's Formula For Successful Relationships

Genesis 3:17-20

“Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” And Adam called his wife’s name Eve (Havah), because she was the mother of all living.”

This has to be one of the saddest portions of scripture in the entire Bible where God had to inform them of all the curses as a result of their fall.  We incurred a debt of sin that was so great, no one could repay it. No one, that is, but Jesus!

Notwithstanding, there is a clue here for having successful relationships.

Now, if you're wondering what does this scripture have to do with the subject at hand, my answer is, "EVERYTHING!"  But first, we need to do a little background study.  

In the previous chapter, God brought all the animals to Adam and he gave them names. Unfortunately, there was not found among them a suitable partner for him.  So God made him one.  Let's follow the story.

Genesis 2:18-23

“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 

"And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 

One of the secrets to having a good relationship is hidden in the Hebrew words for man and woman.  It is PROOF POSITIVE that Jesus holds ALL THINGS together, just as the scriptures say.

The word for man in this passage is the word, "Ish."  It also also means," husband," and it looks like this in Hebrew:  [איש]

As you know, Hebrew reads from right to left and is a form of picture writing, like Chinese.  These are the "pictures" that spell man:
[א] aleph=ox (sacrifice/Jesus)
[י]  yod= hand (power)
[ש] shin=Shaddai/Almighty God


The word for woman here is "ishah."  It also means,"wife" and looks like this in Hebrew:  [אשה]

The "pictures" that spell woman are:

[א] aleph=ox (sacrifice/Jesus)
[ש] shin=shaddai/Almighty God
[ה] hei=open window/grace

Both words share two of the same letters:  aleph- [א] and shin- [ש].  Ish--Man has the letter "yod- [י] that teeny, tiny little line which means "hand."  Ishah--Woman has the letter "hei- [ה].  Hei means "grace."  Apt descriptions!


Why "yod?"  Because men are usually more "hands-on," hence the picture of the yod/hand. Hands imply work. They also tend to be more physical and are often the bread winners, particularly when the women can't work due to pregnancy, and they are built to protect and defend their families.  It's in their nature.    

Ah, but the woman brings the "hei."   She brings a softness or grace, the "feminine touch," to her home.  Her soft answer can turn a potentially heated situation into a peaceful one.

Now let's take the "yod" from man and the "hei" from woman.  The word it spells is "Ya:[יה]" the short form of Yahweh.  Remember (יהוה) "yod hei vav hei?"  If you are not familiar with the secrets hidden in the Name of Yahweh, follow the link below:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-name-of-god-yahweh.html

[יה] Yod-hei spells "Ya".

You see this short form used in words like "Hallelu-jah, Jeremi-ah, Obadi-ah."      
    

The Holy Spirit is drawing us pictures again, showing us He wants to be included in every relationship. Take Ya--God out of the equation, and you end up with real trouble.  

Take the letter yod from man and hei from woman, and both "ish" and "isha" become this word: 

"esh-[אש] = FIRE!"

 

What happens when God is left out?  Sparks fly!   You have fireworks!  No wonder so many marriages and relationships are BURNING UP!  No wonder so many friendships and relationships end in fights and break ups.

When the "evil day," in other words, "trouble," comes, as it inevitably will, where God has been taken out of the equation there will be strife, there will be discord resulting in broken lives, broken friendships and broken marriages.

Conversely, when Jesus is in the center, you will be able not only to withstand in the "evil day" but, when "FIRE" comes, you will remain intact. You will be stronger than before!  Only He can calm the storm.  THANK YOU, JESUS!

There is one more key that demonstrates how to have a successful relationship that I think will really bless you.  It's found in the opening passage.

Notice it says that "ADAM NAMED HIS WIFE, "EVE."  Bet you though God did it, right?  Nope.  Check out this verse:

“Male and female created He (God) them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.”

Genesis 5:2 KJV

See?  God called them both "Adam."  So why did Adam change her name?  

Well, when man disobeyed God and He pronounced over them all those curses, Adam realized that one day death would overtake them.  But Adam loved his wife.  He didnt want her to die.  So, He gave her the name, "Eve."  In Greek it is the name, "Zoe: Life"  In Hebrew it is the name, "Havah," which also means "LIFE!"  He knew that words have power because God "SPOKE" and created everything.  He, following God's example, literally SPOKE "LIFE" to her every single day!  Every time he called her name he was telling her she was "LIFE!"

That's what you and I can do for each other to foster successful relationships:  Speak words of life, health, encouragement and grace.  

These two had so much of the life of God in them, in fact, that Adam lived to be 930 years old.  We don't know how old Eve was when she died but I have no doubt she lived a longer, healthier and more fruitful life because Adam spoke LIFE to her every time he said her name!

Where do we find the words of LIFE today?  IN THE WORDS OF JESUS!  The Bible calls Him, "The WORD made flesh."  It also says,  “For by him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

Colossians 1:16-17 KJV
 

The word translated "consist" is the word, "sunistémi." in Greek.  It also means "cohere."  It is in the Perfect, Indicative tense, Active voice, meaning the action was accomplished in the past and is ongoing: Continuous in nature!

You see?  It's true!  Jesus really does hold all things together!  Without Him, THEY FALL APART.  He does it by the WORD of His power!  

So make God the center of your marriage and relationships.  And when His words of grace come from our lips, those things are the secrets to having successful relationships!