Good evening. Let’s just open with a word of prayer.
As we start, what is your image of the perfect garden, and where would it be?
Well let’s go ahead and jump right in and read the first 2 keys as we work through Genesis chapter 2. (Read)
Now in this chapter we are given the details concerning the creation of man and woman and their place in God’s plan. This account does not contradict chapter 1, it completes it. In fact, many scholars suggest that verse 4a summarizes the creation account from 1:1-2:3. But now the creation account in 4b-25 is a detailed review of the creation story as it relates to humanity. Knowing that, why are we given a closer look at how man fits into the creation account?
Okay, well we said that it detailed the role that man plays after creation. I think that there are 4 main activities from this passage that man was involved in. Let’s take a look at each.
First, man is supposed to rest. If we would go back and read over what we ended with last week, it says in Genesis 2:1-3, “1”
Now God’s rest was the rest of completion, not the rest of exhaustion, because God never grows weary. At this point, Adam was already created, so he must have rested also. The 7th day, or the Sabbath became a sign to Israel that they were God’s special people. In fact, in Exodus 31:13-17 it says, “2”
I think that this rest is also a symbol of the eternal rest God’s people with have with Him one day. What do you think I mean by that?
The second activity that man was involved in was working. In verses 4-15 we find that rest and work must be in balance. Human history involves 3 gardens: the Garden of Eden, where man took of the tree and sinned; the Garden of Gethsemane, where the Savior took the cup and went to the tree to die for our sins; and finally the Garden City of glory where God will take all His children to live forever. As you read through Revelation chapters 21-22 you read about that great garden.
Now some of us may look at work as a curse, but it really isn’t. God gave Adam the task of gardening the Garden and tilling it. It was a fulfilling ministry for him. You see, man and God must work together to produce the harvest. St. Augustine once said, “Pray as though everything depended on God, and work as though everything depended on you.”
So work is a good thing that God have us to do. How can we make our work a positive fulfilling ministry in our lives?
Okay, as we move on, why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden in the first place?
Well, the third thing we see is that man needs to be submitting. As we read in verses 16-17 we find that the Creator has the right to govern His creation. The love that God has for us, sets limits for our good. God calls us to obey Him because we want to, not because we have to. Notice the word free there in verse 16, we are free to do whatever we want, it is our free will. However, God is hoping and desiring that we submit to Him and His word.
And then the final thing that we see as an activity for Adam was naming. In verses 18-25 we see that man’s naming the animals was a part of his dominion as the head of creation. So God named things in creation, then, because we are the head of creation, God gave Adam the responsibility of naming the rest of creation.
Adam also named his mate, he called her “woman.” Later he would call here “Eve.” As we read in this section, God created marriage to meet the need for companionship and to provide for the rearing of children. I think that it also served as a picture of Christ and His church as it talks about in Ephesians 5:25-32. Adam gave of himself for his bride, and in John 19:31-37 we find that Jesus also gave of Himself for His bride.
Now as we close this chapter out, I have just a couple of quick questions. First, what do you think God meant when He described woman as a suitable helper?
And finally, what do you think is the key message in this passage?
Does anyone have anything they would like to add about this chapter before we move on?
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As we move to the next chapter, let me start by asking, “What food is especially tempting to you?”
Well let’s go ahead and read chapter 3. Go ahead and read the next 2 keys please. (Read)
After reading this passage, who is the serpent? Is it a real creature, a mythical symbol, or what?
Well, as we examine the 3rd chapter of Genesis, I think that there are 3 voices that we really need to hear about. The first voice is in verses 1-6, and that is the voice of deception.
Up to this point, God’s word is the only word that has been at work, creating and commanding. But now, another word enters the scene, the word of Satan, the deceiver. He is like a serpent that deceives, he is a liar, and a murderer. In John 8:44 it says, “3”
As we look at the Genesis passage, he starts out by questioning God’s word and God’s goodness. Then in verse 4 he denied God’s warning, and then substituted a lie for God’s truth. He told Eve that she would be like God, and people today still believe that lie.
As the serpent is deceiving Eve, why does he mix the truth with lies?
Now, who do you feel was most responsible for this, Adam, Eve, God, the serpent, and why?
Well, God gave us free will, so it is not His fault that we messed it up. The serpent is to blame somewhat, but again, we have free will and we should have stayed away and not listened to the serpent. So that means that it is our own fault when we sin.
Eve was deceived into eating the fruit, but Adam was not, he sinned with his eyes wide opened. He would rather forfeit his dominion than be separated from his wife. So Adam knew what he was doing. So, the first voice that we hear from this chapter is the voice of deceit.
Then there is a transition phase, where man is ashamed and hides from God. Looking at verses 7-13, and thinking back to the last chapter, how has the relationship between man and woman changed?
How has the relationship between man and God changed?
Well, as we move on, we then come to the second voice in verses 14-19. The second voice is the voice of judgment.
How do you feel about God’s judgment in this story? Is it too harsh, just what they deserved, too easy, or what is it?
When it came time for judgment for their actions, God cursed the serpent and the ground, but He did not curse Adam and Eve. The consequences of man’s fall are all around us, and we suffer because of them today. The ultimate judgment is death. But the only victory that man can have over death is to have faith in Christ.
So the judgment that they received was that Eve would have pain in childbirth, and Adam would have to work the fields for his food. That isn’t too bad considering how bad it could have been.
Then we hear the final voice of this chapter. It is the voice of grace.
Even though God had said that the penalty would be death, He was gracious to Adam and Eve. The judgment that they received was far less than what they deserved. Not only has God been gracious to Adam and Eve, but He shows grace to us today as well if we will have faith in Him.
Jesus is the last Adam. What do you think I mean by that statement?
Well in I Corinthians 15:45-49 it says, “4”
You see, the first Adam’s disobedience plunged us into sin, but the Last Adam’s obedience brought us salvation. The first Adam was a thief and was cast out of Paradise. The Last Adam told a thief on a cross that he would enter Paradise. In Adam we die, but in Christ we have eternal life.
Now, as we close this chapter out, I have a few questions to end with. Thinking about Jesus’ temptation, how is this temptation account similar?
Okay, and how where His responses different?
Adam and Eve tried to cover up their shame with fig leaves, how do you generally act when you sin?
As we close, does anyone have anything about this chapter that they would like to add?
Okay, then if that is all, I will close us with a word of prayer, and then you are dismissed.
Let’s Pray |
