Called to Help
The poem "Footprints in the Sand" was allegedly
written in 1963 by Carolyn Joyce Carty. Many have read and have
been inspired by the words of this poem. Indeed, it brings a vivid
picture of how our Christian walk should be. In the poem, if you
recall, a man dreams that he is walking along a beach with
Christ. At one point he looks back and notices that the prints in
the sand go along with his life. He also notices that at some points
of his life there are two sets of footprints, and at others there is one
set. As he studies this pattern he discovers that it is at the most
trying moments of his life that he sees only one set of
footprints. Disturbed by this discovery he asks Jesus about it, "You
promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me
always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I
needed you most, you have not been there for me?" Then the Lord
replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the
sand, is when I carried you."
This man felt forsaken in his most difficult times. But, Jesus pointed out to the man that He –
Jesus – never left the man. Jesus
fulfilled his promise quoted in
Heb 13: 5 for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13: 6 So that we
may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper,
You do not have to feel alone, because the Lord is always
with you to help you. The word for help
in the greek is boethos. Boēthos is
a noun made up of two words which mean (i) “cry out” or “intense exclamation”
and (ii) “run”. The verb of this word boētheō means “come to
the rescue” or “supply urgently needed help”. Some scholars give the meaning of boētheō as
“to run to the aid of those who cry out for help . . . “ The following is every verse in the
New Testament where boēthos (and its cognates) appear:In Matthew
15:25 and Mark 9:22-24 the word is used where people were crying
out to Jesus for help. In Acts 16:9, 21:28, 27:17 and Revelation
12:16 it is used where strong help and support were
required. In 2 Corinthians 6:2, Hebrews
2:18, 4:16 and 13:6 it is used in the context of receiving
divine help.
In Genesis 2 God says that, “for Adam there was not found a
help meet for him,” and that “It is not good that the man should be alone;” so
God said, “I will make him an help meet for him…” (Genesis 2: 18, 20). In Hebrew the term help meet is used as a
whole and is this term is often translated as suitable help. In the Septuagint – the Greek version of the
Old Testament - the words are separated; the word “meet,” is translated as
“corresponding” in verse 18 and “similar” in verse 20. Help is translated as boethos. This means that in his state of purity and
perfection Adam was crying out for help, and God brought Eve to Adam to comfort
him. So, Eve was Adam’s parakletos – the
word used in Greek for the Holy Spirit that is translated as Comforter. A parakletos is called to one's side, esp.
called to one's aid, a helper, succourer, aider. Ellen White expounds on this subject,
Man was not made to dwell in
solitude; he was to be a social being. Without companionship the beautiful
scenes and delightful employments of Eden
would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could
not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of
the same nature to love and to be loved.
{PP 46.1}
God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided "an help meet for
him"--a helper corresponding to him--one who was fitted to be his
companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created
from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control
him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand
by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone
of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close
union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation.
"For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth
it." Ephesians 5:29. "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his
mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one." {PP 46.2}
“What therefore God hath joined
together , let not man put asunder” (Mark 10:9).
