For the last two Sundays we’ve been looking at Genesis chapter one as the foundation for the whole Bible. And as the foundation we have discovered anew the importance of seeing God as the perfect creator. And then last week we looked at the pinnacle of his wonderful creation – human beings – us! We saw how we are created in God’s image which is distorted by sin but is restored through faith in Jesus Christ who died to bring us back to God.
Now, this morning we are turning to chapter 2. Many see chapter 2 of Genesis as a second account or an alternative account of God’s creation. But really this is not true at all. Chapter two is the account of God’s creation of the world from the perspective of Adam. And it reveals how God the loving Father takes care of everything that Adam needs. And it reveals that beautiful characteristic about God that is so crucial for you and me every day: God is our faithful provider!
1. God provides a wonderful home – the Garden of Eden
The land is described as absolutely perfect. In verse 9 it tells us that God caused things to grow that were “pleasing to the sight and good for food.” He gives things that are both good for the body and good for the eyes. He provides four rivers so that there is an abundant supply of water. There is a treasure of beauty: Gold, bedellium, onyx. (vs. 11-12)
Where did Adam and Eve worship? Did they find a temple or a tabernacle? Of course not! The Garden of Eden itself was a place not only for them to live but for them to worship the Lord. And so the whole chapter here focuses on the beauty of this place – the place of God. This shows the glory of God’s presence through their physical surroundings.
When John saw his vision of heaven in the book of Revelation he too stressed the outward beauty much like the Garden of Eden: Revelation 21:18-19 “The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel.”
But sin resulted in man being removed from the perfect garden. And the earth no longer was a blessing but was a curse producing thorns, weeds, disease, drought, floods (3:17-18). Man suffers now as he works to provide for his family.
Still God provides for us through his creation. And God uses the thorns, the weeds, disease, drought and floods for a great purpose: to humble us, cause us to depend upon Him, to bring us to repentance. Paul experienced this as he was tempted to fall into pride and the Lord allowed him to suffer in order to keep him humble: 2 Cor. 12:7 “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me-- to keep me from exalting myself!” And Paul thanked God for that – he knew that all he needed was God’s grace.
When you suffer hardship – does it bring you to your knees? Do you cry out to God for help, for strength, for mercy? Hardship sifts us – and brings us to repent for ways we have failed God. He will provide for us all we need as we humble ourselves under his mighty hand!
2. God provides a wonderful responsibility
There is a second way God provided for Adam: He was given a wonderful responsibility – to care for God’s perfect creation. Read with me verse 15 “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” And then it says in chapter 1 verse 28: “rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
What a great honor to be put in charge of God’s handiwork. The Father placed a great responsibility and honor in Adam’s hands but not only his but also in ours. Do you realize that this calling was never revoked? The command and work is still on our shoulders from God to this day.
As one commentator says: The Lord is “maker and owner of heaven and earth.” What are the implications of that truth for us today? We are caretakers of everything we see and have and NOT owners.
Our bodies are on loan to us from God. Are you taking good care of this vessel? Not just to be admired, to look good, but mainly to bring God glory. We want to be sure our bodies last as long as possible because we all have important work to do for God in this life – every day is a gift!
Our property is all on loan from God. Are you taking good care of your belongings – not for your glory but to use to the maximum for the Lord’s purposes? Sometimes it’s important to re-evaluate how we are using what we have – your car, your home, your boat, your furniture, your acreage, your bank account. How would God use each of those?
What about the world we live in? – the rivers, the lakes, the nature all around us – everything is God owned. As Christians, we don’t worship nature – we don’t serve nature. But we take good care of it as God’s property and not our own. Psalm 50:12 “For the world is mine and all it contains.”
Someday, we will give an account to the owner of what we did with all that we were given. To much given, will much be required!
It’s like my son who wants to buy me a birthday present. He doesn’t have any source of income besides me and his mom. We provide everything for him. So we give him some money and he can use it to buy me a present – say $20. So finally my birthday comes and he buys me a nice tie. It’s a wonderful present but am I any better off than I was before? Am I any richer? No! But I am richer from the blessing of my son using my money in a way that would make me happy.
God puts so much in our hands and he wants the same thing: He wants us to bring him happiness and joy through what he’s given us. Our life and possessions are to be used as a great “birthday present” for the Lord. When we spend these things only on our own pleasures and not for the Lord, think of the tragedy of it.
3. God provides a wonderful companion (2:20-24)
A third provision of the Lord was much better than the other two: companionship! Verse 20 describes how God created all of the animals and Adam names each one but “there was not found a helper suitable for him.” He was not meant to be alone. God knew that. But then why didn’t he create Eve from the beginning? In order to reveal to Adam that of all of creation, nothing was even close to the one that was made for him. He would have seen all the animals with their partners. Elephants with elephants, cats with cats, dogs with dogs, even mice with mice – each had their partner and where was the partner for him?
So God put Adam in a deep sleep and the scripture says that he (22) “fashioned into a woman the rib which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.” And what a pinnacle of creation she was – the last of all to be made (and the Hebrew actually uses the word “build” in contrast to the animals who were “formed”)
There are three important points about this provision to Adam that relates to us. First, she was formed from his side. Have you ever wondered why God chose the rib? He could have chosen anything – his pointer finger, jawbone, oe, a lock of his hair. But he chose his rib. Why? The Scripture tells us in verse 18 – she was to be a “helper suitable for him.” She was not to be his servant or God might have chosen a part of Adam’s foot. She was not to be his master or he might have chosen part of his head. She was to be his partner, his equal, his companion at his side.
And so when Adam awoke, the excitement was just bursting from him: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh!” Now although most of us are called to a life partnership in marriage, not everyone is. Some of us are called to remain single and serve the Lord in that way. But that doesn’t change the fact that every one of us was made for companionship.
The animals weren’t enough for Adam – he could talk, but they couldn’t talk back to him. They didn’t have the image of God. And no one is created to be alone. Some of us like to spend more time alone than others, but the fact is, we would be miserable all alone on earth.
Remember Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway? He was all alone and was going insane so what did he do? He created an artificial companion called Wilson from a volleyball that he talked to. And Wilson helped him get through those long years alone. We are not made to be without friendship.
We need each other – that’s why I’m so thankful that some of you are ministering in the nursing home – that is a prime example of people who need companionship. They need love and friendship. We have people around us who are bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh. They need our companionship!
A second important point about the provision of Eve that relates to us is that they were one flesh. There was unity between them. In our small groups we spent some time talking about this and what it means. The obvious initial meaning is that they were unified sexually as husband and wife. But that is only the very tip of the iceberg. The unity crossed into the unity of spirit and soul.
In fact, the scripture says that “a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife.” The word “joined” or “be united” or “cleave” in Hebrew means to be “glued together.” There is a bonding of two people in marriage that is so deep that it’s not just superficial which is why a break in that relationship is so destructive to the soul. There is a need of deep healing in that situation.
But without even talking about unity of spirit, soul, and body, there is one absolutely crucial element which Adam eludes to when he says “This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” There must be commitment.
The marriage vows: “Till death do us part!” If marriage is based on commitment, then it will last. Because then there is security. You can trust your spouse and know that he or she will keep their word. If you gain weight or lose your hair you know that your spouse won’t abandon you for someone younger, slimmer, and prettier. Love is not based on looks or on feelings. Your passion for your spouse is not going to stay the same. The intensity of feelings today are probably not the same as when you were first married or fell in love. Does that mean that you are not to be together? Not unified? No! Your relationship is based on commitment and not feelings. If there is no commitment, the unity will fall to pieces sooner or later.
A third point about this provision to Adam that relates to us is that the calling of Adam and Eve was to be fruitful and multiply. 1:28 says “and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it…” Now we recognize that some couples are unable to have children – some are called to have many, some few, and some none. But based on creation, God designed us to be heterosexual – there is no other way to be fruitful and multiply except through a heterosexual relationship. And what a wonderful blessing and honor that is – to be like God and give new life!
The greatest missionary task is given to every parent – to raise your children in the fear and love of the Lord! He gives this responsibility to parents. We don’t let them find their own way – we tutor them, mentor them, lead them in the road that leads to life – as Deuteronomy 6 reminds us: talk with your children about the Lord along the way, and in the gate, and at home. Wherever we go we are to use the opportunities God gives us to witness to our children about Jesus. We share our testimonies to our children so that they too will join us and trust in the Lord. What a great blessing and responsibility!
We might look now at this story in Genesis 2 and shrug – so what? I’m not Adam, I’m not Eve. We’re not perfect. That’s so true. Today we fall far short of God’s perfect plan – it’s been warped by sin. Men abuse and mistreat their wives. Women rebel against their husbands. Homosexual relationships prevail. Having multiple partners in life is normal. Children are aborted, beaten, and rejected. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Through Christ, we can be restored to the original plan.
Men, we are called to treat our wives as Christ treats the church – with love, care, provision, compassion – sacrifice. Women, you are to love your husbands and submit to them as to the Lord. We are to always have the attitude of service to our spouse – because that’s why we were created – to be “side by side” – helping one-another. Not above or below.
May we repent for the way we have treated God’s precious provision of our spouses, our friends. But also for how we’ve mishandled our possessions, our bodies, our time. Let’s look to the Lord God with thanks, with praise for he is truly our provider of all we need just as he promises in Philippians 4:16 “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
