Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
When it comes to understanding math, or anything, I am not the sharpest pencil in the drawer. I remember in second grade the teacher having us turn to page seven in our math book. “Do page seven,” she instructed. I took my pencil and paper (two required items for the course), and began to carefully copy the page. I was slow, but doing a perfect job in my mind. When the teacher saw my effort she was polite and didn’t laugh out loud. She explained how each little problem needed to be answered. That was the beginning of my math career.
In our text we are looking at math and biology. The math is applied to human beings: a man, his father and mother, his wife, and “one flesh.” First looking at the biology, we see relationships in the family of man. Though animals were created male and female, they didn’t have a family plan. I hear that geese mate for life—maybe they are an exception. Let’s not go on a wild goose chase now. Most animals instinctively take care of their young. In verse 23 Adam had just 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.”
Our text was not spoken by Adam. It doesn’t say that God said it. They are the words of the author of Genesis. Most people believe the author to be Moses. No doubt he was inspired by God. Adam did not have a father and mother to leave. In Luke 3:38 Adam is called the son of God. He was created by God without the use of a mother. Jesus calls Himself, “the son of man” many times—Matthew 8:20 for an example. John calls Him “the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18).
Adam did not leave, but he did cleave to Eve. The next verse suggests that this was only natural. Enough biology, let’s move on to math. “They shall be one flesh” could mean that they themselves would be so close as to be “one.” It could also mean that the two of them would produce one flesh—a posterity like themselves. Mathematically “they,” meaning the man and the woman (or two of them), in the cleaving would produce another flesh (or one flesh—twins, etc. being an exception). We therefore have “one” (Adam) plus “one” (Eve) equaling “one” (Cain). Therefore, 1 +1=1.
Why is this important anyway? It is important to note that each one in the equation has their own identity. Each one has their own soul. Each one is responsible for their own actions. Each one will answer to God someday.
Jesus commanded us to love one another (John 13:34). When all three “ones” love one another we have a wonderful family.
We have a grave sin in our nation today called abortion. It has become a political argument because the law has tried to regulate It. When the woman conceives she is no longer “one.” Her body is carrying part of the man with whom she had relation. Because of God’s miracle of reproduction, the third “one” is within her. She gave her part to the “one.” The man gave his part to the “one.” The “one” begins to grow the rest of his or her life. One day the “one” will enter the outside world. The new life has a soul. God is putting the baby together. Normal men and women begin to love this new creation from the beginning. Selfish men and women sometimes choose to murder this “one” for their own convenience. Murder cannot be ignored. It has consequences. It cannot be condoned, but it can be forgiven through repentance. The best plan, God’s plan, is to let 1+1=1!
