Genesis 2:20 - For Adam no suitable helper was found

2:20

Around this point our translations change from “man” to “Adam”. The Hebrew words are the same and in some ways the change is a little arbitrary. At least part of the reason for the change is that we now start to deal with things on a specific person level. We then come to the vexed question of were we all literally descended from one man, or is this allegorical or metaphorical? One of the arguments for the literal approach is that Paul’s theology, especially in Romans, is said to require there to have been a literal Adam. I.e. when he speaks of death coming into the world through the sin of one man, and paralleling this to life coming into the world through the one righteous man Christ (e.g. Rom 5:12). I have to admit I don’t see any problem with Rom 5:12 if Genesis is just talking about man in general, and is now personalising the creation plan. Also when we actually apply the lessons of Genesis 2 and 3 we effectively treat it as if it is talking about man in general. The lessons that we learn from the one man talked about here apply to all of mankind. So let’s move on and see what general lessons we can learn from the narrative here.

Adam had named all the animals and birds but no suitable helper was found for him. Remember from Gen 2:18 part of God’s purpose was for man to have a suitable helper. One thing we can learn from this is that we will not find fulfilment in nature alone. Nature is good, but we must not make an idol out of it. Some new age types and some environmentalists are prone to do this.