Adam & Eve

Having watched several Bob Ross videos, I notice a pattern or trend: the first several colors applied in the first several minutes are him painting a background which, frankly, doesn’t mean a lot by itself. You couldn’t not have it, but you also couldn’t have only it.

Genesis 1 is the background. As Genesis 2 opens, God begins to introduce foreground elements and a better image begins to emerge. God did not create man twice. Man’s creation is recorded twice: once as the background and then with more focus as man becomes the foreground element.

So, while God rested on day 7 in Genesis 2:1-3, we then back up to day 6 to look more closely and with more detail at day 6.

Back it Up, Genesis 2:4-6

Genesis 2:4–6 NKJV

4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

No man = no agriculture, 4-5a

No rain = no problem, 5b-6

God Makes A Man, Genesis 2:7

Genesis 2:7 NKJV

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Body + Breath = Being

We are introduced here to the truth of our nature:

We have a body

We have a spirit

We are a soul

God Plants A Garden, Genesis 2:8-17

Genesis 2:8–9 NKJV

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

This is a second act, not a restatement of His creation from previous days (we are still in day 6)

The two trees are important

Tree of Life, gives everlasting life according to Genesis 3:22-23 “22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.”

of the two trees, this one granted immortality

this was not that important at the moment as man was already created immortal

After the fall, this tree posed a problem. And it is very possible this tree is the source for the fountain of youth myths that have pervaded human myth in every culture.

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, gives a choice

of the two trees this was the more potent, and the more important

of the two trees this was the one forbidden

this tree represents choice. In order for man’s choice to be in harmonious relationship with God to be genuinely voluntary, there had to be some choice other than that state. Everything else in creation was for mankind’s use and appreciation, this was not.

The location is not that important: everything changed after the flood

In its day, the location would have been traceable based on the rivers

in our day, the rivers and lands noted give rise to speculation of where the Garden may have been

Once the garden was ready, God had Adam move in, Genesis 2:15-17 “15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.””

he was there to maintain the garden: work is not a consequence of sin, it preceded it

he was specifically told to not eat of the Tree of Knowledge lest he die

spiritual death - separation from God in the spiritual world. This death would be immediate but unseen

physical death - separation from people in the physical world. This death would be seen but not immediate, though it would begin

God Makes A Woman, Genesis 2:18-25

The first thing that was described as not good, Genesis 2:18 “18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.””

Work with a purpose, Genesis 2:19-20 as Adam was tasked with naming every creature but in the process noted there was no creature like him

God made Eve from Adam, Genesis 2:21-22 “21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.”

Adam “names” Eve

more title than name and just means female man where man refers to “kind” not gender

Adam would eventually give her a name, not just a designation, Genesis 3:20 “20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.”

Moses leaves his mark, Genesis 2:24 “24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

A statement of innocence, Genesis 2:25 “25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

This is how God said we got here. It is short but satisfying and covers more ground than we usually think of it covering. It is important to note the nature of mankind once created:

Immortal, death had not come

Innocent, shame had not come

In Harmony, separation from God, people, and creation itself had not come

This is how we were created to be and what we gave up. And what we still give up, because sin is still a choice that still sacrifices who we were created to be and how we were created to live.