Foundations - Genesis 2 - God Planted a Garden

Introduction

Welcome to class

We will be broadcasting these bible classes live.

I still would like participation. And I will try to repeat the general idea of what you say for those online. Because they will not be able to hear you or see you.

For those of you online, there will not be the slides, so we ask you to follow along in your bibles.

If you would like to have the book that we are referring to and are a member here, contact me and I will have one sent to you somehow. If you are not a member and would like one, you can find the books through Gospel Advocate, they are the FOUNDATIONS SERIES, and we are following the Fall quarter, but we are late on the dates.

Genesis 2:1-7

Genesis 2:1–7 NKJV

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. 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, 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; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. 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.

Sabbath

Rest = Stopped ~~ Music Rest

this is the first “Holy Day” which is where we get our word “Holiday” from.

Genesis 2:4-7

Macro vs Micro creation

Canopy theory - it wouldn’t rain until Noah’s story (Maybe). Consider how terrifying rain would be then? Really is the end of the world.

Genesis 2:7

“create” vs. “form” like a potter…

Psalm 139:13-19

And we still should let him shape us!

Is 64:8; Jer 18:1-23; Rom 9:21; 2 Tim 2:20-21

Note the “physical” nature of man in the “dust”

Gen 3:19; Ecc 3:18-20

— But the spiritual, something that makes us distinct from the animal is different.

Ecc 3:20-21; Ecc 12:1-8

“Dust” or the physical remains, but the spirit exists beyond, it “goes to God.”

The Blessings of the Garden

Genesis 2:8-14

Genesis 2:8–14 NKJV

The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 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. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

“Eden” - “bliss” or “delight” — Septuagint (?) “Paradise”

The focus here is on God’s provision.

Trees for food (Gen 2:9)

Nourishment AND beauty, no doubt!

Rivers: water source for man and vegetation (Gen 2:10)

Names: Pishon (PIE-shown), Gihon (GUY-Hown), Hiddekel (Tigris), and Euphrates

Big Question: Where are they? Everyone wants to know where Eden was. But it has been lost to antiquity.

Tigris and Euphrates we know where they are in the Middle East.

However, Pishon and Gihon have been lost in time.

It’s not that they just haven’t been found. Remember that the world would have great change over time.

This time is what we refer to as Antediluvian which essentially just refers to the time pre-flood.

So think what would happen the face of the earth after the flood… Rivers could be gone for sure!

Though some have thought that Gihon was the Nile. It seems very unfounded.

It may be fun to try to guess “where?” but it is not significant. What is? That the Bible is teaching us that God provides!

The providence of God that is used here is even used as obvious reference in Revelation 22:1-2 as well! It may be a direct reference to Eden, as many feel strongly.

Instructions

Gen 2:15-20

Genesis 2:15–20 NKJV

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 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.” And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.

We were created and given a job.

“God is not dependent on man, but the garden was...”

“tend and keep” (Gen 2:15)

“cultivate” is to work the ground. To till and care for the soil for plants to grow.

“Keep” is used almost everywhere else in the bible in a religious sense by the way.

it means to be entrusted with something, to guard it as in religious observance. see Gen 17:9-10

Rules Given (Gen 2:16-17)

They were simple, clean, easy rules really.

Permissive in many things, but also prohibitive in one. Notice the great amount of freedom!

But, as we know, we couldn’t even let that one thing go!

But man was missing something wasn’t he? (Gen 2:18-20)

“helper” — How do you view the word helper?

it means anyone who assists another in something that cannot be done alone.

Life, cannot be done alone. Serving God, cannot be done alone. Thankfully, man, as a social creature was given a helper! And from there we have many throughout the world who we call brothers and sisters who help!

In marriage, we cannot do it alone. We need help for families. The design of the family is based on mutual cooperation.

It should be noted that God is often in the scriptures called “Helper”. He assists his people in what they cannot accomplish on their own.

Exodus 18:4; Ps 10:14

Creation of Woman for Man

Genesis 2:21–25 NKJV

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. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Woman was formed from man, but she still bears the image of God.

The emphasis of her coming from man is that she is of the same substance as man. She is a part of him, perfect for him, and also unlike all other created things just as he is. Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh emphasizes that they are equal in creation over all other creatures. They are of the same “kind.” Two halves that make a whole.

Note also the design of human sexuality is implicit here, but this will be referenced throughout the bible.

Romans 1 refers back to the creation for its authority on homosexual behavior, as example.

Note also the design of the family. Husband and wife are a unit. And the Husband is the head of the wife. Right?

It was always done so, but this text is referred to often for that authority.

Paul did not intend for it be “overbearing” but authority is given on the basis of creation.

see 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 11:8-12; and Ephesians 5:22-23

3 Takeaways!

God Provides!

Work is an important part of our nature! As is God a part of our nature!

God’s design for the sexuality and the family begins at creation!