Discovering Genesis, Part 2 Series

Discovering Genesis, Part 2

Genesis 2:4-25

Introduction

- This evening, we begin our “Discovering Genesis” series in Genesis 2

- Let’s look at Genesis together and read what God has to say to us

- Read Genesis 2:4-25

- Pray

Point 1 – (4-17)

- At our core, at our very molecular level, we were created to worship God

- APP: Worship is not just our praise but also our obedience (critical point here)

-- We must obey the God we serve; in everything; else we are not worshiping

-- It’s more than singing a few songs and listening to a sermon and giving

-- It’s more than showing up once a week and calling ourselves Christians

- Rev 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

- Genesis 1 opens up with the formation of everything we see from nothing

- God’s creation is a sprawling majesty that is revealed in awe

- But, the creation has a response to Him that drives us in everything

- Something that I want you to see is back in Genesis 1, however

- Gen 1:11-13 shows us that God created plant with the seed in tact

- Now, if there was no death at this point; why would the plants need seeds?

- Gen 6; when He destroys the Earth with water, re-creation doesn’t happen

- They plant life simply regenerates because they all have the seeds in them

-- What causes plants to grow? Seeds, water, and sun light (see Gen 8-9)

- APP: Even in God’s incredible plan from the beginning; He knew the forecast

- So, when all of this was established, the Earth is now ready for mankind

- Genesis 2 is an expanding of the creation of man; for our understanding

- (v7) Physically, man is nothing more than dust that returns to dust

- But what makes him unique is that God “breathed life into him”

- Because of God’s direct interaction; man has a relationship with him

- It is a special relationship that shows how much care God has given us

- Theistic evolutionist proclaim still that we evolved to this point; impossible

-- There is individuality in mankind that is not found anywhere else in creation

-- APP: We are all purposely made with His masterpiece; because He loves us

- (v8) There is no known exact location of the Garden; it doesn’t exist today

- Originally, the Tigris-Euphrates Valley was extremely lush and plentiful

- Notice in (v9) that the Lord made plant life grow that was good/pleasant

- This was not just by change; they were good and pleasant to look at/eat from

- Consider for a moment the glories of some places we’ve only seen on TV

- Hawaii comes to mind often (there in 2008); the landscape is breathtaking

- Lush trees; perfect breezes; vegetation for miles; all placed by God Himself

- Now, even with our eyes we’ve seen these places; imagine Eden’s perfection

- (v10-14) The rivers formed in this place created the perfect boundaries

- Just as info, the river in Ethiopia is the Nile; the Hidekkel is the Tigris

- And in all this, (v15), God gave man dominion to control over it all

- But, there is a condition to all of this – something very critical to see

- (v16-17) God commanded man he can have anything; but from one tree

- God gave man freewill as a responsibility to understand his privilege

- APP: When we examine our own lives for submission; this event is key

- God told man to submit; to obey; and then man had to choose what he’d do

- When God told man he would die; it is a separation from God; from peace

- APP: This is the peace that Jesus would bring us; because we couldn’t do it

- APP: God brings us grace and mercy through Jesus b/c we couldn’t attain it

- TRANS: v18 is probably the best news mankind has ever received

Point 2 – God Gives Man a Helper (18-25)

- God gave man the ability to name all the animals in his creation (v19-20)

- Picture for a moment the intelligence man needed to possess to do this

-- For example; what is an elephant to the first eyes that see it?

- But all these animals in the land were not suitable; so God created woman

- What does this mean? If you are looking for a biblical view of family it’s here

- APP: God created man to be with a woman; period, end of story

- You may not like it, may not agree with it, but this is the Word of the Lord