Genesis 2:1-25
Q.1. What did God do on day seven? Why? How does Genesis chapter two expand on the first chapter? – (Gen.2:1-4)
Chapter one has documented the order of creation from the beginning to completion (see Gen.2:1-2). However, the next day is significantly different – 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Gen.2:2-3). (Ex.20:8-11; Dt.5:12-15). Immediately after Creation, God established the Sabbath – ‘the principle of one day out of seven to be a day of rest and reflection’ – God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made (Gen.2:3). God didn’t need a rest, for He never slumbers or sleeps (see Ps.121:3-4; Is.40:28). However, this creation principle of the Sabbath rest was to apply to man, to give him rest and a time of reflection on the Creator. Chapter two will fill in details about the creation of Adam and Eve, the special Garden God planted for them toward the east in Eden, and the conditions for a long-term relationship between God and man.
Q.2. What was the earth like at first? Why had the vegetation and trees not sprouted? How were the plants watered? How was the first man formed? – (Gen.2:4-7)
The writer expands on chapter 1 and fills in some details: Everything was in readiness to grow and be fruitful, except for two missing features – … for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground (Gen.2:5). On day two God provided springs of water from the earth’s crust, and a mist from the atmosphere, when – God made the expanse and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse … (Gen.1:7). We read – a mist or springs of water used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground (Gen.2:6 c.f. Gen.7:11). Noah was later commended for trusting God, when – being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Heb.11:7). In chapter one we are informed that – God made man in His own likeness … male and female He created them (Gen.1:26-27). Here we are told how – Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Gen.2:7).
Q.3. What made the Garden of Eden unique? How well did the Garden provide for man? What role was given to the man? – (Gen.2:8-15)
The Creation we see today is intricate and stunning. However, imagine what the Garden of Eden looked like, after God especially ‘planted’ it for the man He had made, when – out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food … (Gen.2:9 c.f. Gen.2:8). Having made Adam out of the dust of the earth, – the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it (Gen.2:15). The beauty was breathtaking, and the choices endless. Such is the generosity of our God. The Garden was refreshed by plentiful water from a river flowing out of Eden which divided into four rivers – Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates (see Gen.2:10-14). The Garden of Eden must have been much higher than the surrounding plains in which the rivers flowed. Some of the locations and names are found later in the Scriptures but are not likely to be the original ones. The post-Flood earth was changed dramatically from the one originally created by God, so cannot be compared with any geography we have today (see Gen.7:11-12 c.f. Gen.3:23-24). Adam and Eve were banished from Eden, because God observed that – 22 … the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever – 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen.3:22-24). Those initial days walking and talking with God and tending to the Garden, must have been an amazing existence (see Gen.2:15; 3:8). The Garden was also the source of minerals and precious stones.
Q.4. What were the ‘tree of life’ and the ‘tree of the knowledge of good and evil’? What would be the price for disobeying God’s command? Why did God make humans with the capacity to sin? – (Gen.2:9, 16-17 c.f. Gen.3:22-24; Rev.22:1-5, 14, 19)
With sublime simplicity God introduced us to His overarching plan, when we were told – Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen.2:9). God provides abundance beyond imagination BUT man has a free-will and has a choice – 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” (Gen.2:16-17). The price for choosing disobedience and rebellion would be death, and ever since the Fall, all human beings have been subject to death and separation (see Gen.2:17 c.f. Rom.3:23; 5:12; 6:23). God has not explained why He made us with the capacity to sin against Him. It has been suggested that if God had removed man’s free-will, man’s love and obedience would have been meaningless. Of this we can be certain. God always intended to woo and win us, for it is asserted that – He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we would be holy and blameless before Him (Eph.1:4). God always planned a large family – For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom.8:29; Rev.21:24). This lines up with His eternal plan of the ages – 9 to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph.3:9-11).
Q.5. How did God prepare Adam for a suitable helper? From where did Eve come? How did Adam respond to God’s provision? What foundational principle was established as crucial for marriage? – (Gen.2:18-25)
Adam had a huge capacity, with perfect DNA. He gave names to all of God’s creatures (see Gen.2:18-19). God had observed – … It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him (Gen.2:18). Because Adam only had animals for interaction, God knew that – for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him (Gen.2:20). Adam was now ready for some unique surgery – 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man and brought her to the man (Gen.2:21-22). The wonderful provision was not lost on Adam, who 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.” (Gen.2:23). God did a special thing in forming Eve out of the rib of Adam, from his side, to be his companion for life. Though there were only two human beings, the idea of families was prefigured, when it was recorded – For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (2:24). This was often repeated in the New Testament with reference to marriage. The foundational principle that holds a marriage together is ONENESS. This requires exclusivity and faithfulness. Infidelity shatters trust and ONENESS. It is required that a man leave his father and his mother and set up a new unit and family – 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (Gen.2:24-25).