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Perfect Man

Lesson 2

Genesis 2:4-25

Me-

I have often used the saying, “I am from Missouri show me.”  To me this has meant that even though a statement has been made it does not prove that it should be accepted on face value.  Ideas must be fleshed out and theories proven.  Just looking at chapter one I have always accepted the narrative as truth.  It is the one thing that I have not questioned because I believe that the Bible is God’s word.

It is easy to naively make that last statement.  The question of how to defend what I have believed to be true has become more critical in today’s post-Christian society.  To me that is what chapter 2 does.  It takes the summary or Reader’s Digest version and gives more detail of how the events surrounding man’s creation and the responsibility given to him actually occurred.  As I said in lesson one I will never understand all of the ramifications of what God did but at least I can get glimpse into how the events occurred.

We-

It cannot be emphasized too much that we must continually seek to understand God’s word.  There are enough critics that want to undermine Christianity.  If we truly look at what God has given to us in His inspired word we will be able to build a strong well rounded faith.  Part of the great commandment says we are to love God with our mind.  It is therefore important to spend time in trying to understand our relationship with God and the foundation upon which that relationship is built.  God has given us an example of determining the truth by expanding on the picture in Genesis 1 with a clearer explanation of the “how” in chapter 2.  Let us open our minds to what He has to say to us.

God-

To keep from getting bogged down in the many different interpretations of what occurred in Chapter 1 and now in chapter 2 the focus of this lesson will be the relationships between God and man, man and the earth, man and the animals and finally man and woman. 

It will also be obvious that chapter 2 does not use the chronology of the first chapter but is more topical in nature as has been mentioned above.  Man was at the center of all the creative acts and was God’s highest creation.  With this in mind the study of Genesis 2 can begin.

 

Genesis 2:4

In the opening words of this verse the writer tells us what he is about to do.  It is to be an account heavens and earth came into being.  In his second phrase he uses a reversal of the order to indicate that emphasis would now be placed on the events that occurred on earth.

1. Why was the word earth placed before heavens in the last part of the verse?
2. What were the things that had happened in the heavens and earth?
3. Why do we need a further explanation of creation?
4. What questions might remain after studying chapter 1?

Genesis 2:5-6

The writer now presents the condition of the land before the creation of man.  The terms and shrub and plant in verse five do not refer to the plants and trees of chapter one but to that which would require the cultivation of the land by man.  The other reason presented is that God had not sent rain up to this point and the water available was in the form of a mist.  Evidently this was not enough to allow for growth of these shrubs and plants.

1. What was the condition of the earth before the creation of man? 
2. Why did the writer distinguish the different types of vegetation from each other?
3. What are the reasons that the vegetation in chapter 1 needed to be already growing and producing?
4. Why was the mist not enough for plants to grow?

Genesis 2:7

It is important to note the difference between the creation of animals and man.  In chapter 1 it was written that the animals were brought forth from the earth.  Here is seen that God gave special care to the forming of man out of the dust.  The idea of forming comes from clay in the hands of a potter who shapes it into a useful vessel.  The care with which God made man shows the special relationship that He was to have with Adam.  After making the physical, God then breathed into Adam the breath of life.  At that point Adam became a living soul or being distinct from the animals which are identified as creatures.   

Not only did God create a physical being at that time but a spiritual one also.  Paul used the term spirit more often than soul when speaking of man.  God built into man a special relationship that the animals could never hope to have.  There is one other example of the life giving presence of the Holy Spirit being mentioned in John 20:22.  It says, “He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.”  In that moment the special relationship that man had in the garden before the fall was re-established. 

1. What is the initial difference between man and the animals?
2. Why did Moses use the term form rather than being brought forth from the earth?
3. What does man have in common with the animals?
4. What indications are there in these verses that man was to be different from the animals?
5. What it mean to have God’s breath given to man?
6. Why was man taken from the earth and formed from the dust?

Genesis 2:8-14

The garden which Moses called Eden must have been a place of extraordinary beauty.  God put the man whom He had formed into the garden.  From the description given it is obvious that God had made it not only adequate but one which provided for every need man might have.  It contained:

• Trees that were pleasant to the sight and also good for food.  One might think that even the cherry trees that bloom around Washington in the spring would not compare to the beauty of the garden.
• The tree of life which would be available for all.
• The tree of the knowledge of good and evil which was off limits to man. 
• A river which was the head waters of four rivers flowing out from it.  They were the Pishon, Gihon, Tigres and the Euphrates.  It had the important function of watering the garden so things would grow.

 

1. Why did God make a distinct place for Adam?
2. What indication are we given that man had a special place in the heart of God?
3. Why were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil identified separately from the others?
4. What was the purpose of the river, which was the head waters of the other rivers that were named in this verse?

Genesis 2:15

Man was placed in the garden.  He was given two specific tasks to perform.  It was up to Adam to cultivate the land so that the other plants and shrubs could produce food.  His other responsibility was to be a good steward of God’s creation.  He was to use it, subdue it but not abuse it.  God knew that man needs to have meaningful work that gives purpose to life.  Not mentioned but part of the forming of man had to be the instilling in him the abilities to accomplish the tasks given to him? 

1. Why did God place Adam in the garden?
2. What were to be his responsibilities?
3. What reasons can you give for why it was important for him to have these two tasks to perform? 
4. What does it say about the way God has uniquely made each one of us?

Genesis 2:16-17

God gave man both a command and a warning.  One had to do with calling him to obedience and the other was the consequences of disobeying the commands of God.  He was told that he could eat of every tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  The consequences of disobeying would be death.  It is hard to imagine that Adam would have any concept what death might be having never experienced it.  God was calling Adam to trust in His words even though he might understand all that they meant. 

1. Why did God give such a harsh command and warning to Adam at this point?
2. If the consequences of disobedience would result in death why did God put the tree in the garden in the first place?
3. Why would Adam have trouble understanding what God meant by death?
4. What was the important thing God called Adam to do in his relationship with Him?
5. In what ways do we sometimes have trouble understanding the consequences of our sins?
6. Why does God allow certain things to come into our lives that might be harmful to us?

Genesis 2:18

God had surrounded Adam with everything that man could desire except the one thing that would make it all worth having.  That would be someone with whom to share it.  God looked down and saw that man was alone.  Even though He had viewed all of creation as good, He knew that that was not a good situation.  Man needed someone. It would have to be someone suitable and equal to him in every way that would walk along beside him and be his constant helpmate.  To be equal does not mean alike.  This will be discussed in later verses.   

1. What was the problem for man through the eyes of God?
2. What had been given to man that would appear to be adequate in the minds of man today?
3. Why did God determine that these things were enough?
4. Why is important to have someone with whom we can share our days?

Genesis 2:19-20

Adam was given the task of naming all of the creatures of his world. This may seem strange in light of the situation.  One idea is that by doing so he would see that every creature had a partner.  These verses give a picture of the intellectual capabilities of man prior to the fall to carry out such awesome tasks as naming of every creature.  Man’s answer for a suitable helpmate was not to be found in the animal world.  A couple of important facts can be drawn from these verses:

• Man was given authority and rule over the animal world by God not vice versa.
• Only man was capable of making those kinds of decisions.
• There needs to be an understanding of the equality between man and woman.
• Man will only find dissatisfaction without the relationship with God and other human beings especially the one who is his helpmate.

 

1. What do these verses show us about man?
2.  In what ways is he superior to the animal world?
3. How do the verses once again strike at the heart of the theory of evolution?

Genesis 2:21-22

God had a unique role in the creation of woman.  He did not take her from the ground or dust as He had the animals and even Adam himself.  Adam’s sleep in preparation for the woman was God induced meaning Adam had no part in the event.  From him God removed a rib from his side and built or fashioned a companion from the man.  She was to be the same as a living, spiritual being but different but different physically.  Like every couple she would augment and complement her husband.  When Adam had been awakened God brought her to him.  The method of this creative act was done to:

• Separate her from the animals which had been formed out of the ground.
• Indicate the unity and bond that would exist between man and woman. 
• Show that his authority and rule would be completely different than that of the animals.
• Point out that the man was still the head of the family having the authority of God upon him.

 

1. Why did God fashion the woman as He did?
2. What is the significance of making her out of Adam’s rib?
3. What was her relationship to the animals?
4. What does this indicate about the position of the man in the family?

Genesis 2:23-24

Adam’s response in today’s language would be WOW!  The Scripture showed in a more poetic way Adam’s understanding of what God had done.  He immediately knew that their relationship would be one that reflected the fact the woman had been created from his body.  This gave the example of oneness that should be present in every marriage.  Before there were any other people on the face of the earth God’s standard and definition of marriage were laid out for us.   Marriage was to be:

• Between one man and one woman.  Any other union is not valid in the eyes of God.
• Between a man and woman who set aside other family relationships in order to be one in the eyes of God.

 

1. What can we see in Adam’s response of the understanding of what God had done?
2. What is to be the relationship between husband and wife?
3. How are they to view other relationships?

Genesis 2:25

This verse must be viewed in light of the fact that it was written before the fall of man.  Sin came with the knowledge of sin.  Paul spoke about this in Romans and Galatians when stated that the knowledge of sin is what brought about his spiritual death.  It was the death of his innocence.  Once sin comes into the picture guilt arrives at the same time and man immediately sees his failure. In the beginning Adam and Eve were completely innocent.  Their relationship was pure in the sight of God and each other.

1. How do we know what sin is?
2. What does sin do to our innocence?
3. What do we see in the first couple’s relationship that is good?

You

• Think about how you use the authority that God has given you over His creation.
• Understand that stewardship of the earth is different than the worship of it.
• Understand that your relationship with your spouse is to be one of mutual respect and love.
• Work as partners, knowing that God has made each of us different on purpose for the carrying out of His purpose for the individual and the family.
• Remember that each of us is part of a larger family, the family of God and we are to treat them with the understanding that God loves each of us equally.

We

These two chapters have shown a universe that was created for the unique place that it is.  Throughout the process saw everything was good except that man was alone in relationship to another person.  We have been given the privilege of being a benefactor of the work He did in creation.  This world can be viewed from the perspective of God’s love for mankind.  The Psalmist said in very well in Psalm 8.  He wrote, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that you take thought of him and the son of man that You care for him?  Yet you have made him a little lower than God (or the angels), and have crown him with honor and majesty!  You make him to rule over the works of your hands. (Psalms 8:3-5)

When we begin to understand all that God has done for us it should affect our attitudes towards others, who have been made in the same way as we. Let us not use this privilege to our own benefit but for the glory of the One to whom all of the universe belongs.  

 

Additional Notes:

C = Changes in the life of the person, circumstances or church.

DM = Defining moments in the life of the people of the Bible

RT= Random Thoughts

GC = Characteristics of a godly men.

GC-Every man has been given a meaningful task according to the gift God has given him.  Adam was to be obedient to God in cultivating the Garden of Eden and keeping it.    (Gen. 2:15; Ecc.3:10-11)

GC-To be within the will of God, man must stay within the limits set for him by the Father, which are always for his benefit.  It would very detrimental for Adam to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  God requires our obedience.       (Gen. 2:16; 16:1-10; Ex. 2:12)

GC-We must take note that the command was given to the man and not the woman.  It is for this reason that man must accept responsibility for the consequences of his sin.  Therefore it was Adam’s sin, not Eve’s or satan’s, but Adam’s. (Gen. 2:16, 19)

UE-Even though God told Adam not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, I am not sure that he had any concept of the consequences such actions would bring. The question I have is, How could he and Even know what death meant never having experienced it?  To them it must have been some vague idea what it would be like in the same way we might understand what it would be like to walk on Mars to live in a country that you have never visited.

Being perfect man at this point and possessing knowledge and wisdom far surpassing that of any man living today, they should have realized that this death had to be a terrible thing for God to even speak of it.  (Gen. 2:17)

WM-Even thought Adam from the beginning had a relationship with God.  He knew that Adam needed someone like him.  Another human being made in the image of God would provide all the characteristics that we think of when we talk of companionship and relationship.  With the forming of the woman from Adam’s rib the circle was complete, God, man and woman. (Gen. 2:18, 20-25)

RT-If evolution is true then why does the record we have of Adam giving all the creatures their names.  He did not say, “I am going to call cattle for now but later you may be named something entirely different? (Gen. 2:19-20)

UE-That God would give man the ability to name all of the creatures on the earth. (Gen. 2:19-20)

UE-That God would create woman so different than he had every other creature and man.  All others were formed out of the dust of the earth.  Woman was fashioned from a rib taken from Adam’s side. (Gen. 2:21-22)

RT-To trace all of mankind back to one Eve, as the scientists have concluded, is to validate man.  Man and woman originally would have had the same DNA since it was Adam’s rib that was used to form Eve. (Gen. 2:21-22)

C-With the creation of Eve, Adam’s life would never be the same.  Instead of the animals over which he was to be steward; God gave him a companion, a helpmate, one like him made in the image of God.  They were to share all things as the two became one flesh. (Gen 2:22-24)

Additional Resources:

“Darwin on Trial” by Phillip E. Johnson

“The Wedge of Truth” by Phillip E. Johnson
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beginning

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Me

When I reflect back on High School Biology there is only one thing that I remember from that whole year.  The teacher, whoever she was, explained that the little pink thing in the corner of our eyes was all that was left of the covering we had when we were in the evolutionary stage of being a fish.  Sadly, there was nothing from all of the Sunday School lessons or sermons that I can look back on that refuted what she was saying.  I went around for sometime sharing my new found knowledge.  I have to wonder if the vast majority of people young and old are any better equipped to explain that evolution is only a theory and should be understood as such.

We

I guess because atheism and evolution were not much of a concern for the church when many of us grew up that there was no emphasis on the teaching of creation because, naively we had the idea that everyone accepted it as fact that God created the world. 

Today, however, we are now told to accept as fact by the world something that by honest examination looks like an atheistic and humanistic philosophy.  Lee Strobel writes about his journey in finding the truth about evolution in The Case for a Creator:

“I realized that if I were to embrace Darwinism and its underlying premise of naturalism, I would have to believe that:  Nothing produces everything; non-life produces life; randomness produces fine-tuning; chaos produces information; unconsciousness produces consciousness; and non-reason produces reason.  Based on this, I was forced to conclude that Darwinism would require a blind leap of faith that I was not willing to make.  Simply put, the central pillars of evolutionary theory quickly rotted away when exposed to scrutiny.” (p. 277)

I hope as we study Genesis together that we will have a much better grasp why God went to all of the trouble to provide an inhabitable place in the universe for His highest creation, man.

Our study will carry us from the very beginning of the universe through God’s dealing with His chosen people as they sojourned in Egypt.  It is quite an adventure.

As I have said in other studies I am not a trained theologian.  What is found in this study comes from years of study of the Bible and preparing to teach Bible study classes and small groups.  There are many resources available to anyone who has a deep desire to know about this subject.

God-

Before beginning the actual study of the text, the approach that will be taken in the explanation of the events of creation needs to be covered.  It has to do with the age of the universe and the amount of time it took God to accomplish the task.  There are those who believe that the earth is only about six thousand years old.  They are called Creationists or New Earth adherents.  On the other hand there is probably an equal number of those who called themselves followers of Christ and have also come at this subject from a scientific perspective that hold to the Old Earth theory that says that the universe is billions of years old. 

In the minds of those who are even concerned about creation vary in their understanding of the numbers of days it took for God to complete creation.  Many Christians believe in the timing to be a literal seven day period of twenty-four hours.  Some interpret the Bible to mean that yes there were six twenty-four days but after each aspect of creation was accomplished there could be an intervening time of thousands or millions of years following each activity.  These are only two of the various concepts.  Of course there is on the opposite side those who say that God had no part in creation and that it all happened by chance.  Even some of those people are beginning to have to admit the universe points to an intelligent designer and it had and actual beginning.

The approach of this study will be not to get involved in such discussions but to look at the sequence of events, which most of the scientist agree upon, and the importance of those pieces of the puzzle that made the earth inhabitable.  So here we go.

Genesis 1:1

It bears repeating that any study of the Bible and especially Genesis hinges on a person’s  understanding of God. The opening line of the Bible states “In the beginning God,” What does this part of Genesis truly say?  Below are some thoughts that might be considered as the narrative begins to unfold.  How does man deal with the concepts of His:

• Eternal nature
• Absolute sovereignty 
• Unconditional love
• His transcendent nature?  This speaks of God being outside and beyond His creation but also intimately being involved with it.

 

1. What do you understand when each of these attributes of God?
2. What is your feeling about the validity of each of them?
3. In what ways are they important in your interpretation of Genesis and the rest of the Bible?
4. What does acceptance or rejection of these help you answer those who deny God or teach evolution?
5. What is your understanding of the terms evolution and atheism?
6. How do they attempt to deny what the book of Genesis teaches?

This God of whom the first verse speaks is said to have created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis is speaking of everything in the entire universe.  God began with nothing material and made everything that is physical in nature.

1. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the heavens and earth?
2. Out of what did God accomplish this feat?
3. How does that differ from the activity of man today?

 

 

Genesis 1:2

Before the actual events of the creation, the writer gives a picture of the earth so much different that is seen today.  He tells us that it was:

• Formless or a waste
• Void and totally empty
• Dark
• Covered by water

 

1. What kind of picture does this conjure up in your mind?
2. At this point what hope of anything good coming out of this situation was there?
3. How does this sometimes describe the way you might feel?
4. To whom do you look for solutions in this kind of situation?

It is obvious that God was up to something.  His Spirit was hovering above this tiny empty spec in the universe.  The word that is interpreted Spirit is the Hebrew word Ruah which can also carry with it the idea of wind.  In John 3:8 Jesus speaks of the wind moving about in a way that is incomprehensible to man and do does the Spirit also. The idea of moving over the water conveys the message that God was in the planning stage of what He was about to do.  Of course this idea is for our sakes knowing that God already had plans for the earth and man before the first day of creation.

1. What indication is there that God was about to do something with the earth?
2. What gives us hope from these verses that God was at work?
3. Why would the thought of wind be a less desirable translation?

Genesis 1:3-5

This creative act which is the first of what God began to accomplish is viewed in at least two different ways.  The first that God created the sun, moon and stars at this point but that they were not actually seen until the fourth day.  One reason that they could not be seen on earth is the same as is experienced on a cloudy day.  The sun and moon are there but are blocked out by the clouds.  In the case of verse three the waters below and those above had not been separated.

The second way that this verse can be viewed is that what occurred here is the light of God began to manifest itself and was He who allowed the daylight to come in the midst of the darkness thus setting the pattern for our nights and days. The important part of this act was that nothing can take place on the earth without light whether it be the sun and moon or God’s shekinah glory.

1. Why was it important for His first created act to be light?
2. How do you view the example of the clouds in our day being a possible answer to this verse?
3. What was the importance of the establishment of night and day?

 

 

Genesis 1:6-8

The second step in preparing the earth to support human life was the separation of what the Scriptures called the waters below and those above.  God now created the atmosphere, which is identified as the heavens or the firmament. Care must be taken to understand that this does not refer to the abode of God called the heavens but what is visible to the naked eye of man.  The term used by all of us is sky.  From the sky comes the rain and snow that replenishes the earth.  This act was done on the second day of creation.

1. What is meant by the firmament or heaven mentioned in these verses?
2. Why was this act important for making the earth ready for man?
3. What are the benefits gained from the atmosphere as it is today?

Genesis 1:9-10

If you think about it you cannot have living creatures without dry land on which to live.  God took care of this by producing dry land out of the midst of the water.  The dry land became known as the earth and the waters were named seas.  In verse ten God for the first time what He had done as good.  God meant that the earth was now suitable for the purpose for which He had created it.  Notice there were two different acts that took place on this day.

1. What was the importance of this act of creation?
2. What does this say about the power of God?
3. Why would He call this action good?

Genesis 1:11-13

Once the land was made suitable for life, God brought fourth that which would be necessary for life to continue to live on this planet.  He caused vegetation to sprout up from the ground.  Notice that there were two types of vegetation.  They were:

• Plants that produced seed
• Fruit trees that produced fruit that contained seed.

Genesis indicates the uniqueness of each one by stating that they produced after their kind.  In a very simple way this would mean that wheat or corn will always be wheat or corn.  Apple Trees would put forth apples and orange trees would always be oranges.  Man of course has over the thousands of years worked with plants to create different strains of each one suited to the climates in which they grow but the actual plant itself has never changed to be anything but what it was intended to be. As with the appearance of dry land God saw this act as good, also.

With the separation of the water to make dry land and the sprouting of vegetation the work of the third day was complete.  Once again there is night and day.

1. What can be learned by the mentioning of plants with seed and fruit trees with fruit having seed in them?
2. What was the importance of this creative act?
3. Why did God once again call the results of His action good?

 

Genesis 1:14-19

Whether the sun, moon and stars were created as some commentators believe on the first day of creation here is an expanded description of the purpose for each of them.  God at this point in the process said, “Let there be light in the expanse of the heavens.”  He then gives the purpose for them.  They were to:

• Separate day from the night.  Notice He put the day ahead of night in verse 14.
• Be signs and for seasons, days and years.
• Give light to the earth.

To accomplish the above He created the sun and the moon as the two great lights that would have the greatest impact on the earth. The sun being the greater of the two would shine during the day.  The lesser of the two, the moon, which has no light source of its own, but only reflects the light of the sun, would be seen at night.  As if this was not enough the creation of the stars was also mentioned. 

Each of these was placed in the heavens.  It is interesting that the writer used the term, placed.  This was no chaotic throwing together of the components of the universe that might be suggested by the “Big Bang Theory” but an orderly placing of each part to be exactly where it should be to allow life to be sustained on the earth.  Many books speak of the fact that everything had to be fined tuned and the earth has to be in the exact location that it is for life to exist on this planet.

Again God called the creation of the luminaries or lights good.  Truly, now there could be night and morning on the fourth day.

1. What were the specific purposes of the lights God created?
2. How are they important in making the earth a place that could be inhabited by man?
3. What do you understand about the “Big Bang Theory”?
4. How does it fit in with your understanding of the creation narrative?

 

 Genesis 1:20-23

Everything was now in place for God to create the two groups of living creatures.  Unlike the inanimate vegetation He had created to be food for creative beings the latter were to be have souls.  This is the part of every creature that is the non physical part that allows it to be alive.  In Ezekiel 37:7-10 is seen how the breath was the thing that brought the army to life.  It is the same with every living creature was the breathing stops it is no longer has physical life.

In verse 20 God stated what He intended to do.  He indicated that the waters would be full of life and the air would be filled with birds.  Once the plan was shared with the others of the Godhead He went about the business of creating

• Great sea monster.  This was probably things like the whale.
• Living creatures that would in some way be connected to the water like frogs etc.
• Winged birds

Notice that each of these were said to be of its own kind.  Looking down on what He had done He declare all of the sea and air creatures as good.  He also did one other thing that had not been mentioned in regards to the plants and trees.  He pronounced a blessing upon them.  This blessing had two aspects relating to both those of the sea and in the air.  They were to procreate.  God said they were to be fruitful and multiply.  The sea creatures were to fill the waters with their offspring.  The birds were to multiply on the dry land. 

These activities completed the fifth day.

1. Why did God wait until the fifth day to create the swarming and sea creatures and the birds of the air?
2. Why is important to us to have the distinction made between the creatures of the sea and the birds?
3. How does this turn away the argument by the evolutionists that we evolved from the creatures of the sea?
4. What was the blessing that God gave to His new creations?
5. Why was the creation of living things important in light of the creation of man to come?

Genesis 1:24-25

These verses are specific in the different land animals that God planned to create.  After saying “Let the earth bring forth,” He proceeded to create each after its own kind:

• Cattle
• Creeping things
• Beast of the fields

It is important how God differentiated between each group of those things that would live on the land.  Once again He observed that everything created up that point was suitable for the purpose for which He had created them.

1. Why did God specifically mention cattle as different from the other creatures?
2. Why did he not specifically spell out what the rest of the creatures were?
3. Why do we consistently see God say that His creation is good?
4. Why did He create all of the above before He got around to creating man?

 

Genesis 1:26-27

God saved His special status for man.  When speaking of him He said “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”  Before going on to the actual creation and the purpose for which man was created the concepts of who is the Us and Our and what is in the image of God must be discussed. 

Most theologians today accept the Us and Our as speaking of the Trinity.  Already there has been mentioned the fact that the Spirit of God was moving over the water in Genesis 1:1.  If there is God and His Spirit where is the third part of the Trinity?  John 1:3 says “All things came into being through Him.  John was speaking of the Logos of God, Jesus Christ.  Paul, in Colossians,   clarified and gave evidence that there was more than God and the Holy Spirit present during that time.  He wrote, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)  These verses fill in the identity of the third member of the Trinity.

Secondly, God spoke of this new creature being made in the image and likeness of the Trinity.  Neither of these two words would indicate any physical attributes but having to do with the makeup of his reasoning power and his spiritual relationship with God.  In order to accomplish what was to come next as God laid out His plan for man, man would have to have the ability to make choices and understand the consequences of his actions. 

God’s plan for man was for him to be steward of and to have authority over God’s creation.  From the very beginning man was to have a purpose in life. 

The writer then said, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Vs. 27) Some of the following questions are will be answered by the recounting of creation found in chapter 2.

1. Who is the Us and Our of these verses?
2. How do John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 give evidence of how Christ was involved in the whole of creation?
3. What does it mean for man to have been created in God’s image?
4. What does it mean to have been created in His likeness?
5. How do those two concepts affect the way you view yourself and others?

Genesis 1:28

This particular verse covers not the blessing of man in the same way as the animals but adds the dimension of authority over God’s creation.  His first command to man was to be fruitful and multiply.  Only in the procreation of mankind could the second command be carried out.  The Psalmist tells us that children are a gift from God and the man who has many is blessed. (Psalm 127:3-5)

Although not spelled out here the first purpose of man is to glorify God.  One way to do this was to carry out His mandate given to Adam to:

1. Subdue His creation
2. Rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air and all of the creatures on dry land.

He was to be a steward, God’s representative on this earth.

1. What were the two things that man was given to do?
2. What does it mean when God said to subdue?
3. In what ways does man rule over the living creatures on the earth?
4. In what ways does it mean for to be a good steward of all that is around him?

Genesis 1:29-30

God provided the sustenance for everything that lived.  Both man and the animal world was to benefit from the plants and fruits trees that God had already brought forth from the earth.  At this point there is no indication that any living being would be a source of food.  That would come later.

1. Why did God restrict the provision for man and other living creatures to the vegetation on the earth?
2. What does this say about the relationship between man and beast at this time?

Genesis 1:31

This verse is a little different from the other times the term good was used.  Before God spoke of each action taken and the resulting component of was creation as good.  Here He looked over the entirety of what had been accomplished and called all of it good.  With those words the sixth day was ended.  

1. What was the difference between the previous pronouncements of goodness and the one found in this verse?
2. What does it say about all that He had done?
3. Where does our narrative go from here? 
4. Why do we need the rest of the story?

Genesis 2:1-3

The writer tells us that by the seventh day all of creation had been completed. Was the creative work was done God rested on the seventh day.  There are two things shared about the seventh day.  God:

• Blessed the seventh day. He gave it His stamp of approval
• Sanctified it.  He set it apart for a day of rest.  His example for man can be seen because He himself rested on that day.

 

1. What important lessons can be learned from the way God celebrated the seventh day?
2. What does the idea of it being sanctified mean to us?
3. What other indication is there that God considered it a special day?
4. Based on God’s actions how should we view Sunday?

You-

• As you reflect once again on what has been shared consider what new perspectives it may give you in your relationship to God.
• Knowing that the universe and place in it on which you live, think of the ways that you can be good stewards of it.
• Be careful that you remember that it is God that created the universe and it is He who is to be worshipped and not His creation.

We

Hopefully we have again seen how much God truly loves us through the lens of His creative acts.  We know that we can never know how He did it or how long it actually took for all of creation to be put into place.  Thankfully we do not need to know the particulars but that He is the Creator and His perfect plan to make this a place in the universe for man to live was accomplished.  As we know Him better and better He will give us greater insight into the very purpose for our lives.  Each of us is given the responsibility of our own little part of this vast universe over which we are to be good stewards. By doing it according to God’s plan we do glorify and honor Him.

Additional Notes:

RT-The world will continue to be shrouded in darkness until the light of God breaks through. (Gen. 1:1)

Q-Why were none of the animals found by God to be suitable as a companion of Adam? How does the answer to this question speak to the whole theory of evolution? (Gen 1:20)

Q-What is the significance of knowing what God did each day of creation?

Q-How could there have been days and nights when the sun and moon were not created until the fourth day? Gen. 1:14-17) 

Q-The way the Bible reads in almost seems to be an after-thought to create the stars. What do we call where the stars are clustered?  What is the importance of the clusters that we call ___________? (Gen. 1:16)

Q-What are other aspects that lend credibility to the whole process that can be used to answer skeptics today?

Q-What was God attempting to do in the creation process?  How was the order important?

GA-Following will be a list of the actions taken by God during the week of creation.  We will look at them individually later. 

1.  The beginning of the creation process.  The phrase and the “Spirit of God was moving over the face of the water” would be appear to indicate that God was pondering the steps He was about to take to be begin the creative process.  This in no way diminishes the sovereignty of God.  He was just telling us that He wanted it to be right.  (Gen. 1:1)
2. He speaks an each element of creation comes into existence. (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9)
3. His first act was to create light and separate it from darkness. At this point He gave them names, day and night. (Gen. 1:3-5) Again He acted to separate the waters from below and above calling the firmament above heaven. (Gen. 1:6-8)
4. He next formed dry land out of the waters.  He gave the land the name and earth and called the waters seas. (Gen. 1:9-10)
5. Vegetation was brought forth on the land.  They included plants and fruit bearing trees.  (Gen. 1:11-12)
6. Now we get to the sun, moon and stars which He created to rule the day and night and also to be signs of “seasons days and years.” (Gen. 1:14-18)
7. Next came sea creatures (Gen. 1:20-22)
8. Birds (Gen. 1:21-22)
9. Land creatures (1:24-25)
10. His final act was to create man and woman. They were different that all of the other created beings. They were made in the image of God. (Gen. 1:26-27)

GA- There are some important threads running throughout the creation narrative that need to be noted.  They each have to do with actions that God took in the process.  

They include:

1. God was in beginning. He was here before there was anything at all. (Gen. 1:1)
2. Creation itself.  “In the beginning God created.” (1:1)
3.  He spoke and what He said happened. (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9)
4. He had the power to separate parts of His creation (Gen. 1:4, 7)
5. Some things He just makes happen. (Gen. 1:7, 16, 31)
6. Gives the different pieces names, day, night, heaven, earth, land, sun, moon and stars.  More amazingly we learn that to each of the stars He gives names.
7. Allows (permits) (Gen. 1:11)
8. Sees all that He has done. It indicates to me that God had a genuine interest in each part of His creation. (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 17, 25, 31)
9. Established time (Gen. 1:14)
10. Identifies goodness. (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31)

He speaks of living things;

1. Air and Sea (Gen. 1:20)
2. Land animals (Gen. 1:24)

Those things God blessed Gen. 1:22, 28; 2:3; 17:20)

Commands given (Gen 1:22, 28: 2:16)

His creation man and woman and the attributes He gave them.  (Gen. 1:26-27)

UE-It is amazing the God would allow man to be stewards of the perfect world that He had created. (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:15)

RT-We do not have to know how God created all that exists in the universe.  We only have the responsibility of being good stewards of His creation and to truly understand what He has given to us.  A true scientist therefore will have as his primary objective not to be tempted to prove that there is no God, but to learn how to use what God has put in place in this world.  A theologian is not to tear God’s word apart, but to bring about spiritual healing of all within his given circle of influence based on the infallibility of the Scriptures. (Gen 1)

Resources:

A Case for the Creator by Lee Strobel

A Fine Tuned Universe by Alister McGrath

Seven Days That Divide the World by John C. Lennox

Why the Universe is the Way It is by Hugh Ross

The Greatest Hoax on Earth by Jonathan Sarfati

I Don’t Have Enogh Faith to be an Atheist by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek

The New American Commentary Genesis 1-11:26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post will contain some random thoughts and several questions.  Some of the questions will be answered while others will be left for the reader to comtemplate for oneself.  I have had to wrestle with all of these for myself because the world still tries to tell us that the Bible cannot be true.  So here we go.

To Interpret Genesis we have to determine what is our understanding of God.  How do we therefore deal with the concepts of His:                                                                                                                                         

1. Eternal nature.                                                                                                                                                                                                              

2. Absolute sovereignty (Total power and authority)                                                                                                                                                     

3. Unconditional love.                                                                                                                                                                                                     

4. Being transcendent (separate but active in the affairs of man).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

 What support do we have for the existence of a creator God?                                                                                                                        

1. The world its complexity cries out for a creator.                                                                                                                                             

 2. His word which has been validated time and again even as man has attempts to destroy it and the truths it contains. (John 17:17)

if we are able to answer the above we can come to the conclusion as we begin to look at Genesis 1 that there are certain things I believe hold true.  We do not have to know how God created all that exists in the Universe.  We only have the responsibility of accepting that He did it on faith.  Secondly we have the responsibility of being good stewards of His creation and to try to understand what He has given to us.  The true scientists therefore will have as his primary objective not to fall prey to the temptation to prove that there is no God but to learn how to use what God has put in place in the world.  One of the questions I have is, Can we really trust a man who according to anti-theists is no more than an evolved animal raised up from the accidental coming together of amino acids in some soup with the answers of how life came into existenced and is to be lived?  A theologian is not to tear God’s word apart, but to bring about spiritual healing of all within his given circle of influence based on the complete truth of the Scriptures.

There is so much that could be said, but I will leave the discussion of Genesis chapter 1 until next time.

One of my passions over 38 years is to not only  to  study God’s word but to write about those passages that have given meaning in my life.  In addition there has been the opportunity  to teach as well.  During the last nine years there has been an individual in the Bible Study class who summarized the lessons that have been taught.  My plan is to share a consolidation of all of these thoughts with you from the different books of the Bible.  Today I will begin with the book of Genesis.

Man has had six thousand yearst to refute the Bible.  Even those who do not hold to the truth of Christianity give credence to the Old Testament.  Both Judiasm and Islam find their roots in Abraham.  Sadly, the Muslims do not worship the God of the Bible but a moon god called Allah.  The Jews ultimately do not look back to Abraham but the origin of man in the image of the one and only creator God. 

As much as the anti-theist attempt to deny and denigrate God they have never been able to disprove that He is the eternal God.  Everything in the universe points to His creative work.

How a man accepts the account of creation found in Genesis 1 and 2 depends on his or her view of God. The Bible tells us, “In the beginning God.”  This indicates the eternality of Him who has no beginning or end.  He is always the “I AM” the Yahweh of history.  If one believe these descriptions to be true then he can begin to understand the marvelous wonder and complexity of all God created.  My question is how do each of us deal with the whole idea of eternal nature of God?  What is the importance that He was even before creation began?

How can it be stated unequivocally that God created the universe based on the lack of detail we find in Scripture?  the fact is that evidence is all around us of the fingerprint of God on His work.  Genesis only gives us a summary of all the intricate details that science has discovered as God has allowed them to be revealed.  God said of each event of creation that the result was good.  Our finite mind cannot even begin to comprehend what that term means from His perspective.

 

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