Page 140 - Through New Eyes

Man: The Agent of Transformation 135

tion are images of men. Moses and David, for instance, became
leaders of men by first being shepherds of flocks; and Jesus
learned leadership by working with recalcitrant wood as a car-
penter. Adam was actually told to “serve” the Garden, and the
word used is the same as that used for slavery in the Bible. Ser-
vice to the creation would teach him how to serve his wife, his
children, and other men.
True kingship is by service, and is never apart from service.
Jesus said that

those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it
is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great
among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be
first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man
did not come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:42-45).

The lives of Joseph and Daniel and others show that it is
through humble service that God’s people become rulers. The
lives of Saul and David show that if a man forgets to be a servant
after he becomes a lord, he will lose his kingdom.
After all, the purpose of rule is not domination but glorifica-
tion. If my goal is to glorify and beautify my wife, I will not
abuse her. If my goal is to transfigure and exalt my neighbor-
hood, I will not destroy it. If my goal is to “Jerusalemize” and
“heavenize” my land, I will not pollute it.
God had an ulterior purpose in having Adam name the ani-
mals. From his examination of them, Adam realized that none
of these animals was a helper peculiarly suited to him. For that,
he would need another human being.
Now that Adam realized that human society was necessary,
God acted to provide it. In accordance with the creation pat-
tern, God sovereignly took hold of Adam and put him to sleep. 3
Then God divided Adam by removing flesh and bone from his
side, and restructured humanity into ma.Ie and female. When Adam
awoke, God distributed the woman to him. Adam gazed upon her
and gave her a positive evaluation: “This at last is bone of my
bones and flesh of my flesh!” (Genesis 2:23). Finally, Adam ex-
pressed that this condition would continue, that the situation
was at rest, “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his