"I have said, and many men agree with me, that Adam’s rib was the greatest investment in human history. Why? Because God then gave man woman, a different creature, who complemented him. God did it on purpose, and we are privileged to live with the differences. Feminists et al., get over it. It is not discrimination to accommodate God’s design; it is acknowledging His will – it is wisdom."(reference)
In Genesis, God mentions several husband and wife teams: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah and Isaac and Rebekah. If you read through their records, the complementation can be clearly seen. Jacob's life was a little more messy as he had two wives to deal with. On his Facebook profile under 'Relationship Status' he would have had to write: 'It's complicated'!
Originally God gave Adam a 'help meet'.
Genesis 2:18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.The words 'help meet' are clearly about a complementer. The words in Hebrew are 'ezer kenegdo' which means 'helper' 'in the sight of', 'opposite to' 'in front of' and ''suitable'. Some translations translate these words as 'helper suitable to'. In the Greek Septuagint these words are translated 'bonthon kata' or 'helper according to him'. To be a 'suitable' helper means there is complementation in that as a need arises, something else provides a help or support. (See Acts 27:17 'helps' for this word)
When we read through the records of these pairs in Genesis, there are many examples of how they complemented each other, not only physically (which is obvious), but mentally and spiritually as well. We can see it very clearly with situations involving their children: Isaac and Ishmael; Jacob and Esau.
Sometimes husband can be right and the wife wrong (Samson and Delilah). At other times the wife can be right and the husband wrong (Abigail and Nabal). When both are wrong, things are not the best (just look at Adam and Eve). When both carry out God's word in their lives, it is very powerful (ex. Priscilla and Aquila).
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:121 + 1 + God is very powerful. Even if you are not married this applies. We all need friends to speak those things that are suitably helpful to us (Esther and Mordecai example).
In marriage, when two people commit to a lifelong relationship, there is always pressure. Each has the potential for good as well as evil. No one is perfect and we have to understand that when there is disagreement. There is nothing wrong with disagreement when it is ultimately handled with wisdom from God. Sometimes it takes a little bit of work and time to get to this point (there are several example of this with the Genesis pairs). It is God's word and His spirit that resides within us that sorts it all out. There are rich rewards in pulling together for good.
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