Sermon Tone Analysis

*Genesis 2:4-27** - The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil*

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            It is no slight exaggeration to say that there are no 2 chapters more important for the proper understanding of history than these 2 chapters of Genesis.

In chapter is the secret of man's sinfulness, the relationship between the sexes, the proper place of  man and woman in marriage, the solution of the problem of divorce and most important the revelation of the meaning of divine redemption and grace.

In chapter one, the whole universe was in view.

In Chapter two, the record narrows its focus to the human family alone.

2:4 The word *"ACCOUNT" *or *"generation" *in the Hebrew means the same thing as genealogy.

It is used 10 times in Genesis as a division marker.

Notice in verse 4 a new name is given for our Creator.

Did you notice it.

Verse 4 says,

 

*Genesis 2:4*

*4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven.

NASV*

 

            Previously, only the word *"God"* was used.

Now a new name *"LORD GOD."* is also used.

Why?

What is the significance of this new name?

A study of the names of God found in the Old Testament reveals that each name emphasizes a different aspect of God's character.

The name *God *ELOHIM, is used to describes a powerful Creator.

The name *LORD *Yahweh, is used to describe a personnel, close caring covenant keeping God.

The powerful God of creation who created the laws of science is identical to the God who wants to be personally involved with His creation.

*Genesis 2:5*

*5 Now** no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth; and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

nasv*

 

2:5 At the beginning of time, it didn't rain.

Because the earth's atmosphere was protected and shielded by a huge special water canopy.

How did the world water its gardens and lands?

Genesis 2:6

*Genesis 2:6*

*6 But** a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.*

*Genesis 2:7*

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

2:7

The word translated *"FORMED" *in verse 7 is a potter's term.

It speaks of an artist who forms and fashions an object according to his own design.

It speaks of molding something new out of already existing materials.

The Hebrew word translated *"MAN" *is Adam.

It is used to describe to reddish soil of the earth.

Do you know what the world's largest living thing is?

The worlds largest living thing is a tree.

It is located in Sequoia National Park in California.

The tree has a name.

It is called the General Sherman Tree.

It towers more than 275 feet and has a trunk about 37 feet wide.

It has been around for so long that it dates back 200 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

There is another three in Madagascar that is called the Travelers Tree.

What makes the travelers tree so unique is that each branch of the tree holds 1 pint of water.

So when people traveled they knew they could always receive a fresh drink of water from the traveler's tree.

There is another tree that is unique.

It is called the Ombu Tree.

You find it in Argentina.

It can survive insect attacks, violent storms, and intense heart.

The tree's wood is so moist it will not burn and it is so spongy it can not be cut down.

But they are not the most unique tree.

The most unique tree is found in Genesis 2:8-9.

It is called the "The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil."

 

*Genesis 2:8-9*

*8 And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in **Eden**; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

9 And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

nasv*

 

            And that is about all that we are told about the tree.

We are told the tree is in a garden.

And it is a very special garden.

The Hebrew word for garden means a garden that is fenced in.

This tree is so unique that God gave very special instructions for it.

Look at the instructions.

*Genesis 2:15-17*

*15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

NASV*

 

            Is God threatening Adam?

No God is not making a threat.

But He is giving a warning.

Let me ask you a question.

When a parent says to a child, "Do not touch a hot stove" is that a threat?

That's not a threat, it's a warning.

God is just trying to warn man.

There is no threat.

Someone may be thinking, Why didn't  God just create the human race so we can not sin?

Do you know why God did not create you like that?

Because you would be a computer, and a computer can not respond back wit

 

            So God creates man and places him in Eden with the freedom to choose.

Now there are 3 things that I want you to notice about this tree and the cross of Jesus Christ.

*FIRST -- NOTICE WHERE BOTH TREES ARE PLACED.*

Genesis 2:8-9

8 And the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

9 And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

nasv

 

            We know that the tree of knowledge of good and evil was placed in a garden, But did you know that the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ was also in a garden?

Look at John 19:41

 

John 19:41

41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid.

nasv

 

            Now here is the point.

The tree of death was in the Garden of Eden.

But the tree of life, the Cross of Jesus Christ was also in a garden.

Now let me illustrate what I mean.

Adam was in a beautiful garden.

A perfect environment.

And yet he still sinned.

We are told today that man's primary problem is his environment.