Keep The Garden Of Eden Series

Theme: Keep the Garden

Text: Genesis 2:4-17

Greetings: The Lord is good; and his love endures forever!

Introduction: Bible is the only scripture which has systematically develop the creation of the world and gives the picture of what would happen at the end. We have the story of the creation within six days. But the creation of the heavens and the earth are beyond time, from ancient of days, and of eternity.

Observe the words in the text: No one to till the ground (Genesis 2:5), the Lord formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). And the man became a living being. Garden in Eden (Genesis 2:8), God made trees to grow which were pleasant to the sight and good for food (Genesis 2:9). Man was placed in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it ( Genesis 2:15).

Today, I would like to share with you the purpose of the creation of the man and woman in the light of our monthly theme “Work while it’s a day” based on John 9:4, We have meditated on: working hours, work and worship, Isaac planted and harvested, whatever you do, diligent hands, work principles of ants, and now let’s move to understand the primary purpose of a man on the earth based on the scripture lesson came to us “Keep the Garden”.

Keep the companionship, Keep the garden, and Keep the commandment. The first, the blessing was given in Genesis 1:28, the second was the communication given in Genesis 2:15, the third was the commandment given to Adam for what to eat and what not to eat (Genesis 2:16-17).

1. Keep the company:

Illustration: “While getting married most of the men say to the girl’s parents “I will keep your daughter happy rest of Her life”.

But we never heard a girl saying to the boy’s parents, “I will keep your son happy rest of His life”.

Why, you know. Because women never tell lies.”(Adopted).

In the beginning, God created out of nothing (ba'ra) but here God formed the first human being (yi'ser) out of something like an artist, a sculptor, or a potter (ref: bibleref.com). The word used in Genesis 2:7, ‘formed or made’ but the word used in Genesis 1:1, 1:27, 1:26 is “created”.

The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became “a living being”. Man is made up of mortal and immortal components. Man is a compound being, having a body and soul distinctly and separately created. The body out of the dust of the earth, and the soul breathed from God himself (Adam Clark).

Josephus (Jewish Historian) says, red earth or clay macerated with water ( Job 33:6 ), "formed" like a potter who forms his clay into whatever shape he pleases ( Isaiah 64:8 ). It tells to humble the pride of man and to consider that he is of the earth, dust, and ashes and to he must return to it. A living man performs all the functions of the animals such as of eating, drinking, and walking, but above all thinking, reasoning, and discoursing as a rational creature (ref: biblestudytools.com, John Gill).

Though, we are descendants of Adam. Yet, each one of us is unique (Psalm 139:13-16). The "breath of life" (Heb. nesama) was God’s breath that gave Adam life, spiritual understanding (Job 32:8), and a functioning conscience (Proverbs 20:27). Adam’s life came from God’s breath. His uniqueness consisted in his having been made in God’s image. God’s breath may be a synonym for His word (Psalms 33:6).

Adam, and Eve were created by God. Adam was called the son of God (Luke 3:37). God created Adam after his own image and his own likeness. God has given His Holy attributes to man. His holiness, righteousness, justice, mercy, grace, love, and truth.

Adam was created with lesser power than the angels but higher in status of angels in relationship to God. God gave man an extra sense and wisdom than all other created beings on the earth (Genesis 2:19-20).

The man was created to Glorify God through exercising his personality—mind, heart, and will. With his mind, man has to know God; with his heart, he has to love God, and with his will, he has to obey God. (ref: bible.org).

God has created man to worship God and to have dominion over the creations. God has created the world with an ulterior motive of bringing glory to him alone (Psalm 100:2-3- Enter his gates with thanksgiving and worship him and bow down before him; John 17:3-4, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 -fear God and keep his commandments). The sole purpose is to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5, Luke 10:27). He has created Adam and Eve to have a faithful and devoted generation (Malachi 2:15).