I’ve heard it so many times; I know you have too. Anytime someone refers to marriage in scripture, they use it. Rightfully so, it describes the perfect relationship. I’m referring to the verses in Genesis 2.
21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.
22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Genesis 2:21-24
This is a beautiful description of a fulfilling marriage. But here’s my question: why would God, who took woman out of the man, want them to be one flesh? Some theologians believe that this is a graphic illustration of sex, could be. My opinion is that it’s a graphic illustration of intimacy.
Have you ever played with play dough? The clay that gets hard if it doesn’t get touched (that’s a whole different thought). Well let’s assume that the man is one color of clay, blue, and the woman is another color, red. What happens in many marriages is that once the wedding is over, and they live in the same house, the blue clay and the red clay get just close enough to have one color rub off on the other, but they never become one. That isn’t Gods design. Gods design is that the blue and red clay become one. Where there are swirls of red and swirls of blue and even areas of purple. That kind of closeness only comes through intimacy. Real, true intimacy.
I’ve heard this passage so many times, but for some reason the last verse in that chapter is often left out.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 2:25
Of course we know that Adam and Eve were physically naked. When two people become one, there should be more than just physical nakedness. The goal is to become emotionally naked, relationally naked, spiritually naked, mentally and domestically naked. Where they have nothing to hide, no reason to cover, no shame!
There are many ways for a couple to achieve this level of intimacy like communication, being responsible for your roles, being spiritually intimate and meeting the needs of your spouse. Truth is, all of those things are impossible without getting naked.
Don’t let this be just another day where you are just close enough to your spouse to rub off on them; get intimate, get swirly, get naked.
Billy and Annie Phipps have been married for 23 years and are the Marriage and Family Pastors at South Hills Church in Corona California. Determined to make it through some of their own difficult years early in marriage, they filled their life with knowledge that would make their marriage thrive. Now they are quickly becoming one of the leading voices on marriage and family in the Southern California area. They reside in Corona with their two children, Aaron 21 years of age and Aly who is 19.
Foundation Restoration Treat Pack including a multi-use canvas tote, notebook, and sticky notes paired with two books: Fight Fair: Winning at Conflict Without Losing at Love and One of Us Must Be Crazy … and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You: Making Sense of the Differences That Divide Us by Tim & Joy Downs
This is a 3-day Giveaway – ending May 8, 2011 at midnight PST. COMMENT BELOW to get entered to win today’s featured giveaway. For extra entries do one or more of the following AND MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE WHICH YOU DID IN YOUR COMMENT BELOW!!! If you already did the things below (for example, you “liked” us on Facebook yesterday), that’s okay; it still counts, but just make sure to still include which you did in your comment below!
- Like us on Facebook
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- Link to our site (share the link please)
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- Follow Billy on Twitter
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Entries must be received by May 8, 2011 at midnight Pacific Standard Time. Winners will be selected randomly and notified by email the following day. Open only to those living in the U.S. (So sorry :()
UPDATE: Congratulations to our giveaway winner … Megan!!!
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I found this very interesting!! I never before thought of blending together the way you described it. It makes so much sense, becoming one (purple) while still being who you are.
I also liked you on Facebook, get the newsletter and shared the link of Facebook!
Rachel, thanks for the comment! I found the blending analogy very interesting too; it’s a great visualization of what it means to be intimate and come together as one. Thanks for liking us on Facebook, sharing our link, and signing up for the newsletter; we appreciate that!
Alisa, thanks for getting involved and supporting us! I really appreciate your kind words!
Amanda, making time to find intimacy in life can definitely be a challenge, which is why I really enjoyed reading this article to remind me why it’s important to find the time. Thanks for liking us on Facebook, sharing the link, and signing up for our newsletter!
Kara, thanks for stopping by and sharing your kind words for Annie. It was great to have she and Billy contribute this piece. And purple is my favorite color too 🙂 Thanks for the Facebook like!
Jerry Lee, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! Openness and vulnerability are so important in a marriage and really key to building the much needed intimacy between both people.
Nicole, glad you liked this! I thought the playdough analogy was a good one too 🙂
Anonymous, thanks for stopping by and contributing your thoughts. “Get swirly” is definitely a fun and interesting way to look at intimacy.
Sara, thanks for all your support!
I have done all of the above. I love all the articles you put out and read them as well as like them,and share them with family and friends .
Thanks for your consistance in following God’s will to help others.
Finding true intimacy is the hardest thing, especially with all that life throws at you.
I liked you on Facebook, shared the link, and also receive your newsletter!
Hi Annie!! Thank you for such inspirational article today about being with each other fully blended and sharing everything with one another. Also, my fav color is purple lol
I like you on FB and links!! 🙂 thanks again
oh i also found it on little wifey! 🙂
Very true, how can there be a relationship if there is no trust, no feeling of togetherness, no dependency on each other; to do these things, to feel like you have worth in your marriage, you can’t have secrets, you must be open with your spouse, you must get “naked. Thanks for that insite.
Fabulous article! Love the playdough comparison!
Interesting article! That’s great advice to really make sure you get beyond barely rubbing off on each other. Get swirly…I like that!!!
I like you on FB and follow you on twitter! Great giveaway!
Liked u on FB, following u billy and annie on Twitter 🙂
I like you in real life, does that get me an extra vote? 🙂 OK, I’m going to follow you both on twitter (glad I waited to do that until it counted for something 🙂 ) and link back to this on my blog because it’s brilliant.
Oh, and I like Foundation Restoration on FB. What a great website!
Good article. You always have great posts. I like you on facebook and follow you on Twitter as well.
Jennifer, thanks! I am so glad you enjoy the posts; I really want my readers to leave feeling encouraged and inspired. Thanks for your support – liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter!
Megan, thank you!
I liked Foundation Restoration on facebook. A wonderful message!