There is an old saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees." Of course the meaning of this statement is clear, that a person can get so wrapped up with details or issues or trees that they miss the bigger picture or forest. It's easy to get distracted and sweat the small stuff. Sadly though, this is the case with the first Torah reading portion from the book of Genesis or Beresheet in the Hebrew.

In Parsha Beresheet there are so many exciting and important events, that it is simple to loose focus and forget or simply overlook the most significant happening. Perhaps the most notable event in the first six chapters of the first book of the Bible is not creation. Nor is it the temptation, the fall, the banishment or first murder. Perhaps the first human crisis in the Scriptures is so simple and so plain that it is overlooked for the more doctrinal deep issues. Perhaps man's first problem is still a major problem because it has been overlooked for thousands of years.

It is before the fall that Yahweh fixes man's first and primary dilemma. Let's follow the parasha: six times in the first chapter Yahweh creates something and then the scriptures declare, "it was good" or "tov." But, in Beresheet 2:18 the first problem, the first predicament in the entire Bible is revealed. The "it was tov" statements now change. And the first "it was not tov" statement is made. Up to this point everything in creation was perfect, that is until Yahweh Himself said, "It is not tov that the man should be alone; I will make him a help mate for him" Beresheet 2:18.

Yahweh had created the heavens and the earth and had formed man from the ground. Yahweh had then brought to man every living animal to find a suitable companion. In the greatness and glory of creation though, something was wrong. It was not good for man to be alone. Alone? How could man be alone? Well the emet, the truth is:
- Adam had a perfect relationship with the creator
- Adam had all of his spiritual needs met
- Adam lived in a perfect world
- Adam had an exalted position
- Adam possessed all that he needed
- Adam had all of his physical needs met

Yes, though Adam had all of this he was still alone. Adam found himself alone even though he had an unhindered relationship with Yahweh. And this statement wasn't his own, and it isn't commentary. The scriptures say, "Yahweh Elohim said, 'It is not tov that the man should be alone; I will make him a help mate for him,'" Beresheet 2:18.

Adam's physical and spiritual needs were fully met, yet Adam's need for human relationships was void - not tov. This first human crisis left Adam with the need of other people. This need Yahweh could not meet nor fulfill directly - yet Yahweh did it indirectly - by providing for Adam a suitable helper. In the same way that Yahweh does not supernaturally zap man with nutrients everyday, Yahweh has provided a way for man to receive the vitamins and minerals he needs through solid food and liquids.

Adam was created with relational needs and Yahweh has provided for Adam's needs by creating other people, namely Chava.

It was John Donne who wrote that, "no man is an island," and it is true. A person cannot correctly say that all that they need is Yahweh, just as a person cannot fairly say that all that they need is other people. Yahweh created Adam (man) with the need for both spiritual and human relationships.

For thousands of years various faiths have promoted a "just believe and you'll be ok" theology. Believers have excused their independence by quoting, "I can do all things through Messiah who gives me strength." And churches have taught that "as long as you have g/d then you are not alone" and "it's you and me g/d." Yet, this message is not Biblical. The "all you need is g/d" message is laden with guilt and produces people who are scared to admit loneliness or even sickness because of what might occur. Too many people quote Philippians 4:13 and forget the 14th verse - the most important sentence of the paragraph.

Just read: "I can do everything through Messiah who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles," Philippians 4:13,14.

Was Rabbi Sha'ul really expressing total dependence on Yahweh? Did Sha'ul say all that he needed was his faith in the Messiah? No, Rabbi Sha'ul emphatically states that the believers he was writing to shared in his troubles! He can do all things through the Messiah who gives him strength and the fellow, like- minded believers who share in his life experiences! The point of all of this is that we need each other. The first crisis in the Bible points man towards the first and greatest command in the Bible - the Shema. "The most important one," answered Yahshua, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is one. Love the Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these," Mark 12:29. There is simply not two commandments here, there is only one - love Yahweh and love man. As important as loving or having a relationship with Yahweh is loving and having a relationship with your neighbor or near one.

Yahshua said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It is not man's understanding of the esoteric side of the first parsha that proves we are the students of Yahshua - it is our love of each other. People are alone and will continue to be alone unless a group, a remnant, of Bible believers will acknowledge that man was created with relational needs. Man needs family. Ivor Powell once said, "True religion not only reaches the heart of Yahweh, it also reaches out the needs of men and women."

It is time that the Shema becomes Israel acts out and not just sings. It is time for the first crisis in the first parasha to be addressed by the first commandment. The issue is loneliness. Before Yahweh dealt with Adam's sin, Yahweh dealt with Adam's loneliness and perhaps Israel must learn to do the same. The scripture declares that when Adam's relational needs were met that, "they were both naked and not ashamed." For your brother's need of love to be met, possibly it will take being "naked" or bare and open through sharing true feelings and love. There should be no shame when a relational bond is made between two believers in the right context.

It is time that the relational needs of every human being on the face of the earth be recognized and met. The needs of every person include: respect, encouragement, appreciation, attention, comfort, security, acceptance, unity, support, affection, approval, and quality time.

It is time to restore Shema love to our marriages, our homes, our ministries, and our work places. Truly relevant ministries teach more than just rule keeping - they transform people through establishing relationships and sharing the word of truth.

Adam was alone. Are you? Who do you know that needs some encouragement, comfort, or respect? Who can you reach out to in Shema love? When you read this week's Torah parasha don't loose sight of the first crisis. Marvel at creation. Study the fall. Be amazed by the grace of Yahweh in forgiving sin. But don, don't overlook the first human problem - loneliness. Please don't miss the forest for the trees.