God, The Great Provider Series

Genesis Series # 1 CHCC: January 7, 2007

God, the Great Provider

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:15-23

INTRODUCTION:

As we enter into a new year with a new schedule, working some new ideas into our services, I thought it would be good to start a new sermon series from the book in the Bible that tells all about “beginnings” That is what “Genesis” means, and since I’ve never preached a series from this book before, we will explore some of the major stories contained in the 50 chapters of this important Old Testament book.

Looking at Genesis, it is common to focus on Chapter 1 which gives a timeline for the 6 days of creation, and is often the focus of the debate between science and the Bible. Genesis 1 gives rise to such questions as the actual age of our planet, the question of evolution vs. creation, and other questions about origins. We dealt with some of this information in the “Why? Series” when we talked about how design points to a designer. But if you have taken a look into the Bible Study book written by Max Lucado you will notice that his first lesson didn’t cover chapter 1 of Genesis. It concerns itself with chapter 2. therefore, so will I.

Some people assume that chapter 1 and 2 of Genesis give two contradictory creation accounts, but in actuality, chapter 1 gives an overview of the entire creation event in general, while Chapter 2 reviews creation with emphasis on the culminating event – the creation of man and woman. And, as we know everything else in creation was created FOR man and woman) If Genesis 1 and 2 were a symphony, chapter 1 would represent the first movement played by the entire symphony, and chapter 2 would be a duet played by two lead instruments. In this way we can make more sense of Genesis 1 and 2 looking at them together.

I recently acquired a remarkable DVD called “the Privileged Planet.” Based on a book of the same title written by two scientists, Jay Richards and Guillermo Gonzales. The hour long DVD shows the uniqueness of our planet in the universe and how everything that was needed to sustain life here was finely tuned into our home here on earth. Over 20 different factors that are required for life to exist here happen to be just exactly the way they need to be for life to exist. Take a look at a short segment of this program and see what God did when he lovingly and carefully created this planet

Ch. 11: Portion of VIDEO showing what is necessary for LIFE on earth

1. God Provided the Perfect Place Genesis 2:8-14

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin [e] and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. [f] 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

From the video we see that God made all of creation to sustain life – but more than that, he personally designed a special Home – the Perfect Place for Adam.

The Garden of Eden provided one stop shopping for all of Adam’s needs. Everything he needed to sustain life was there in the garden. The climate there was perefect, tropical so no clothing was needed, but shaded and not too hot for comfort. No rain at that time to chill the bones, no seasons to provide temperature extremes. It was somewhat like the temperature on Oahu in Hawaii. In the 70’s every day all year long.

From the rivers mentioned in the text we can locate Eden somewhere in modern day Iraq which we know does not have an Eden like climate today. So what was provided there was special and custom designed for Adam and Eve to enjoy. God provided the perfect place out of love and care for his special creation.

2. God Provided a Purpose Genesis 2:15

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.