I had a childhood argument with the girl next-door. She said girls had more ribs than boys because God had taken one of Adam’s ribs to make Eve, and ever since… Of course, that’s as silly as her belief that thunder was the sound of God bowling.
Humans have 24 ribs. But how many could you lose and remain healthy?
“God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the Lord made the rib … into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said: ‘This one, AT LAST is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. This one will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from man.’ This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become ONE FLESH” Genesis 2:21-24.
Eve was literally made from Adam’s flesh. And for all future couples, sex makes two people become one. ‘One flesh’ may not be so much about sex as it is about THE RIB. Think of it this way—you are now ONE FLESH just as if she had been created from your rib.
And you can spare one rib. But what if you are one flesh with multiple partners? The CDC says men between 25 – 50 report having slept with an average (median) of six partners. Could you spare six ribs? The BBC says you could survive the loss of six. But what if you have had more partners? The CDC reports that 28% of men report having had 15 or more partners. The loss of 15 ribs is probably a death sentence. If not immediately, eventually.
Those who abuse God’s ways suffer physically, mentally, and in every area of their lives. Promiscuity may not rob a man of literal ribs, but it certainly does more harm than good to both his physical health and his mental health.
God, fill us with FEAR, with AWE of YOUR HOLINESS. May we please You and glorify You in all that we do.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 