We come now to the great climax of the work of reconstruction. The work of reconstruction is very wonderful, but along with it there was the creation of life-vegetable life, marine life, air life, land life. To these was now added human life. Man was created. Special detail is given, not only in Gen. 1, but amplified in Gen. 2. It is very significant that in all the lower creation, the female is never mentioned as the complement of the male. But in the case of the creation of man we are told, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Nay, further, in relation to the lower creation there was no charge given them to multiply and replenish the earth. That is left to instinct and nature. But in the case of man we have the admonition, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth" (Gen. 1:2828And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28)). In the case of the lower creation each member of it is to fulfill its purpose and life, but in the case of man he is put at the head of the whole creation. That Adam was typical of Christ is definitely stated in Rom. 5:1414Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14), "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come."
This of course was not so after Adam's fall with all its terrible consequences, but Adam was created sinless and innocent with Eve at his side, the Head of God's fair creation and reconstructed scene, which He pronounced as "VERY good."
We need not go over the ground of woman's creation as given in the first part of this book, but we must add some remarks that did not find their place there.
In Gen. 2 we have the account of Adam falling into a deep sleep, his rib or side being removed, and recovering from this deep sleep to find a helpmeet by his side, of whom he exclaimed in wonderment and delight, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh" (Gen. 2:2323And 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. (Genesis 2:23)). This surely is a very beautiful picture or type of Christ and the church. It is not here a picture of Christ dying on the cross for the individual sinner, but rather the work of Christ on the cross from the Divine standpoint; not so much from that of the need of redemption, though redemption must be, but as stated in Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25):- "Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." The blessed Lord went into the deep sleep of death in order that out of it might come forth the delight of His heart, His church, His bride. God uses the relationship that is nearest and dearest in human life, the only one that speaks of union, to set forth the wonderfully near place the church has to Christ, which will be fully displayed in the day that is coming.
It is touching that in these two chapters, Genesis and 2, devoted to the description of what took place before man's sin marred the fair scene, we should find this beautiful typical scene of Christ and the church. It is indeed striking there should be a type of death, the deep sleep, before sin came in.
The Spirit of God uses the relationship 'of husband and wife in Eph. 5 to illustrate the relationship of Christ to His church. Nay further, it is not that the relationship of husband and wife is a convenient illustration, but it is clear from Eph. 5 that the marriage relationship was modeled on what God had in His mind, the relationship of Christ and the church. That is to say the relationship of Christ and His church was in the Divine mind in the counsels of eternity, and in time the relationship of husband and wife was instituted. So we find Eph. 5:3030For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30) re-echoing the words of Gen. 2:2323And 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. (Genesis 2:23), which we just quoted, putting them in an infinitely higher and eternal connection, "For we are members of His [Christ's] body, of His flesh, and of His bones... This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church " (Eph. 5:30, 3230For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)
32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:32)).
What then is the full typical meaning of man and woman? We notice very specially Gen. 1:2626And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26), "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let THEM have dominion." We noticed on the fourth day that in the two great lights, the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night, we had the type of Christ as the Light of the world whilst here on this earth. In the night of His absence His church is to shine in the light of Christ, just as the moon reflects the light of the sun in the darkness of night. We pointed out that when the sun shines in noonday splendor the moon is not visible, when the moon sheds her silvery light the sun it not visible, that they do not shine together at the same time.
But on the sixth day, when man, God's masterpiece, appeared upon the scene, and there was presented to him a helpmeet, a bride, a wife, and they are bidden to have joint dominion, Adam being the Head of the creation, together they jointly held dominion.
This is typical of the millennial scene when Christ, and His church associated with Him, will reign over the whole earth. Then, "The creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom. 8:2121Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)). Hallelujah! Christ comes and comes to reign. Associated with Him will be His church, His bride, every member of the body of Christ from the day of Pentecost till that glad moment, soon to arrive, when the ears of the ransomed of the Lord will be gladdened by the summoning shout of their Lord, the ' sleeping saints raised, the living changed, all caught up to be forever with their loved Lord, in due time to come out with Him when He shall come to reign over this earth, fulfilling the type we have just been considering.