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
-- It’s not my word; nor my idea; but Adam was excited to see this woman
-- For some reason, I don’t think Adam would have been excited to see a man
- When God caused this deep sleep he brought life to be alongside man
- The word woman in the Hebrew is very similar to the same one used for man
-- Man (in Hebrew) is “ish”; woman is actually “ishshah”
- This creation was taken from the man’s side to walk with him in life
-- Not to walk behind, or in front of, but alongside of as a partner/companion
- And so, when woman was created God spoke (v24) to Moses for recording
-- APP: God calls them to be one in His eyes; because they complete one another
- The creation of woman was, though, an indirect creation
- God created man, and woman was taken from the creation of man
- Woman was not created as something new; but out of an existing created being
- Honestly, Genesis 2 gives us a great platform to stand on for all of our history
Conclusion
- It covers mankind’s creation; where he is placed; his occupation (tend the garden)
- The conditions (probation) of living there; his need for a companion/helper
- Lastly, God’s creation of woman out of the existing creation of man
- APP: There is an identity between these two that shall never be broken
-- They are not the same; they are different, but complimentary of one another
-- Paul reminds us of this fact in Ephesians where we are told to love one another
-- Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church (dying for it)
-- Wives submit to (love, respect) your husbands as to the Lord
- Here in the garden we see perfection; God’s perfection of how life should be
- We have a total kinship of man and God and harmony throughout creation
- And then … it all falls apart (next week)
- Pray
