Gen. 2:23
Bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh – What an incredible description of the ideal couple. There may be a God-sized hole in each of hearts that only Jesus can fill. However, the great love between spouses in the ideal situation should be such that they come close.
As we shall see later, Sarah called Abraham Lord, but it was not blasphemy. She was not ascribing Godlike virtue to him. We must never put any person on a pedestal and see them as Godlike! That includes those in authority. She was simply showing that he completed her in such a way that his love for her – and hence her devotion to him – was very near that unconditional, perfect love of God’s. Her devotion to him therefore led to a title of great reverence. To argue it any other way is to threaten to ascribe Godly characteristics to man, and that is a very, very dangerous thing.
Let’s look for a second at what this implies, then. The ideal couple should be one where the man bestows great respect on the woman (Eph. 5:25), just as they complete each other so fabulously, that there should be that incredible honor, because she was made for the man. (1 Cor. 11:8) this is bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh. If only men could grasp this incredible thought, they would never treat a woman selfishly, but would give themselves totally for her. She is a gift from God so incredible, that the right woman is literally going to be – to the man – such a part of her that when she hurts, he hurts. They should cater to each other’s needs out of a desire to provide unselfish love and comfort to each other, because they are one flesh.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Gen. 2:22
God formed Eve out of a rib, not out of the dust of the ground? Why?
For one thing, if he had made the woman out of the dust like Adam, they would be able to mate, being the same special, but there wouldn’t be that special connection that man and woman are supposed to feel as husband and wife. There are, of course, some animals which stick to one mate their entire lives. However, that is merely instinct, and while they might feel something, there is nothing like the joy one has when finding that one, special someone with whom they want to spend their whole lives. It is so magnificent; words can’t begin to describe it. The ideal spouses must complete each other.
Also, remember that this was before sin came into the world. The ideal situation is marriage between two people who love and complete each other. This isn’t always true in our fallen world. There are people who won’t find a special someone like that. For them, it is better not to marry, as singleness is a gift, too.
This does not mean that God didn’t create a special someone for them. We don’t know if He does or not. He may have a special someone for everyone, and that someone – perhaps through no fault of their own – never even meets the person they were intended to marry. This doesn’t mean God was caught off guard in such cases. It merely means that God – knowing the choices people would make – gave that person a gift of being single, knowing that their perfect help mate would not be available for them.
The situation in our fallen world is far different from the situation here, however. In this ideal situation, God brought the woman to the man. It’s a wonderful picture of marriage. God – the Father – gave away Eve and united the two. It’s interesting that – even in the very liberal times we live in – men still follow that wonderful tradition of asking the daughter’s hand in marriage. If there is no father, they as the one who had the most to do with raising the woman. It shows great respect. It recognizes that the future groom understands the great love and devotion that the father should have for his daughter, and that he wants to pledge to provide the same great love and devotion.
It is often said that women will marry a man who is much like their father – or like whatever male role model they can find. Women who have been mistreated can still become stable, loving wives and mothers, and they can still find good, caring husbands. However, they must be careful to see God is the model of what a true Father should be. It is only through Godly, unconditional love in relationships she can feel fulfilled.
This is why some go from one man to the other so much. They have had no truly loving, giving male to guide them. It has often been said that there is a God-sized hold in each of our hearts, that only Jesus Christ can fill. And, it’s so much more true of someone with no father figure, be that a father, an uncle, a grandfather, or someone else.
For one thing, if he had made the woman out of the dust like Adam, they would be able to mate, being the same special, but there wouldn’t be that special connection that man and woman are supposed to feel as husband and wife. There are, of course, some animals which stick to one mate their entire lives. However, that is merely instinct, and while they might feel something, there is nothing like the joy one has when finding that one, special someone with whom they want to spend their whole lives. It is so magnificent; words can’t begin to describe it. The ideal spouses must complete each other.
Also, remember that this was before sin came into the world. The ideal situation is marriage between two people who love and complete each other. This isn’t always true in our fallen world. There are people who won’t find a special someone like that. For them, it is better not to marry, as singleness is a gift, too.
This does not mean that God didn’t create a special someone for them. We don’t know if He does or not. He may have a special someone for everyone, and that someone – perhaps through no fault of their own – never even meets the person they were intended to marry. This doesn’t mean God was caught off guard in such cases. It merely means that God – knowing the choices people would make – gave that person a gift of being single, knowing that their perfect help mate would not be available for them.
The situation in our fallen world is far different from the situation here, however. In this ideal situation, God brought the woman to the man. It’s a wonderful picture of marriage. God – the Father – gave away Eve and united the two. It’s interesting that – even in the very liberal times we live in – men still follow that wonderful tradition of asking the daughter’s hand in marriage. If there is no father, they as the one who had the most to do with raising the woman. It shows great respect. It recognizes that the future groom understands the great love and devotion that the father should have for his daughter, and that he wants to pledge to provide the same great love and devotion.
It is often said that women will marry a man who is much like their father – or like whatever male role model they can find. Women who have been mistreated can still become stable, loving wives and mothers, and they can still find good, caring husbands. However, they must be careful to see God is the model of what a true Father should be. It is only through Godly, unconditional love in relationships she can feel fulfilled.
This is why some go from one man to the other so much. They have had no truly loving, giving male to guide them. It has often been said that there is a God-sized hold in each of our hearts, that only Jesus Christ can fill. And, it’s so much more true of someone with no father figure, be that a father, an uncle, a grandfather, or someone else.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Gen. 2:21
The Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam. Whether he was told what God was doing during this sleep is uncertain. He knows what has happened several verses later, but the Lord didn’t feel it important to tell us when Adam was told.
The important part is, God performed this operation with Adam suffering no ill effects. He felt no pain. When God works in a situation, he does it effortlessly. We won’t always avoid suffering in this life, because we’re in a world of sin. But, when God finally brings about a resolution to a problem, He does so with perfect timing. He does it in a way where a person can see it’s His work. He won’t always do it in a flashy way. But, He will give a person exactly what they need, when they need it.
God provided what Adam needed by taking a rib from Adam. It was taken from the side, because the woman was to be equal, to Adam; a true help meet, not one for Adam to trample on, and not one to rule over him..
Adam would probably not have been created with an extra rib, for two reasons. First, if it was an automatic genetic feature, everyone else would have been worn with thirteen ribs, instead of twelve. People do not inherit things from their parents that happen after they’re born. A person who loses an arm in a war won’t have children with only one arm. The second reason is, if it was a genetic variable – like color – there would have been some people born with an extra rib, and there don’t seem to have been any.
What seems more likely is that Adam was missing a rib the rest of his life. Remember that Jacob had a similar thing happen. After a night of wrestling with God, he demanded that God bless him. God touched his thigh, and made him walk with a limp. (Gen. 32:25) Many commentators feel he had this limp the rest of his life, as a reminder that it was not in his own strength, but in God’s, that he must walk. There is also Paul’s thorn in the flesh, likely a physical malady, which he was allowed to have, lest he be exalted beyond what he should. (2 Cor. 12:7) Such a loss would not have been vital – even after sin was brought into the world, God could protect him from anything that would bruise his heart of lungs. And yet, it would always remind him of God’s power, as well as the fact that his wife, Eve, came directly from his side, as a gift from God. She was truly part of him.
It is, of course, also possible that God gave him a new rib and we are not told.
This is one of numerous things which remind us that – while we must remain true to doctrines which are vital – there is also much which we are free to disagree on, and must do so in a way that shows we love and accept each other. And so, even in silence God’s Word can teach important lessons.
The important part is, God performed this operation with Adam suffering no ill effects. He felt no pain. When God works in a situation, he does it effortlessly. We won’t always avoid suffering in this life, because we’re in a world of sin. But, when God finally brings about a resolution to a problem, He does so with perfect timing. He does it in a way where a person can see it’s His work. He won’t always do it in a flashy way. But, He will give a person exactly what they need, when they need it.
God provided what Adam needed by taking a rib from Adam. It was taken from the side, because the woman was to be equal, to Adam; a true help meet, not one for Adam to trample on, and not one to rule over him..
Adam would probably not have been created with an extra rib, for two reasons. First, if it was an automatic genetic feature, everyone else would have been worn with thirteen ribs, instead of twelve. People do not inherit things from their parents that happen after they’re born. A person who loses an arm in a war won’t have children with only one arm. The second reason is, if it was a genetic variable – like color – there would have been some people born with an extra rib, and there don’t seem to have been any.
What seems more likely is that Adam was missing a rib the rest of his life. Remember that Jacob had a similar thing happen. After a night of wrestling with God, he demanded that God bless him. God touched his thigh, and made him walk with a limp. (Gen. 32:25) Many commentators feel he had this limp the rest of his life, as a reminder that it was not in his own strength, but in God’s, that he must walk. There is also Paul’s thorn in the flesh, likely a physical malady, which he was allowed to have, lest he be exalted beyond what he should. (2 Cor. 12:7) Such a loss would not have been vital – even after sin was brought into the world, God could protect him from anything that would bruise his heart of lungs. And yet, it would always remind him of God’s power, as well as the fact that his wife, Eve, came directly from his side, as a gift from God. She was truly part of him.
It is, of course, also possible that God gave him a new rib and we are not told.
This is one of numerous things which remind us that – while we must remain true to doctrines which are vital – there is also much which we are free to disagree on, and must do so in a way that shows we love and accept each other. And so, even in silence God’s Word can teach important lessons.
Gen. 2:20
Adam gave names to all the creatures. Adam’s mental capacity, and the names given, have been discussed. But, this also shows an order that God had in mind for the universe. It was one where God allowed man to have dominion over the other creatures. Hence, whatever he said, that’s what they were called.
This, in turn, allowd man to think of just how different he is from God. I’ve sometimes used the following analogy with Heaven. I’ll say that to describe Heaven to someone here on Earth is like telling a dog what it’s like to play the piano, or produce a work of art.
Elephants have been taught to use a paintbrush, but that creature is not creating the way humans create. Human artists have a feel for things which are pleasing to the senses. That means painters can make things that pelase their eyes – and hopefully the eyes of others. Musicians can compose or play wonderful melodies. Humans have an appreciation that goes far beyond what animals have.
This superiority, of course, does not mean mankind has the right to abuse animals. It also teaches mankind to be humble. When we recognize that animals have less capacity than we do, we should have compassion on them. However, because of our sin nature, we can be really cruel – not just to them, but to each other.
God knew that just being on top wasn’t enough, though. He knew man needed someone who could experience things in the same way, as noted earlier. But, He created male and female animals right away, according to most commentators. Why didn’t the Lord do the same thing with man? It’s impossible to say for sure. However, remember that the world was made to be perfect. Before the Fall, Adam could educate everyone not only about God, but about his own experiences. One of those experiences was loneliness. God knew that there could be times when people questioned why there were so many others on the earth. Adam could tell them that it was no fun to be alone, away from fellow humans. He could then elaborate on how God had given him an equal.
This, in turn, allowd man to think of just how different he is from God. I’ve sometimes used the following analogy with Heaven. I’ll say that to describe Heaven to someone here on Earth is like telling a dog what it’s like to play the piano, or produce a work of art.
Elephants have been taught to use a paintbrush, but that creature is not creating the way humans create. Human artists have a feel for things which are pleasing to the senses. That means painters can make things that pelase their eyes – and hopefully the eyes of others. Musicians can compose or play wonderful melodies. Humans have an appreciation that goes far beyond what animals have.
This superiority, of course, does not mean mankind has the right to abuse animals. It also teaches mankind to be humble. When we recognize that animals have less capacity than we do, we should have compassion on them. However, because of our sin nature, we can be really cruel – not just to them, but to each other.
God knew that just being on top wasn’t enough, though. He knew man needed someone who could experience things in the same way, as noted earlier. But, He created male and female animals right away, according to most commentators. Why didn’t the Lord do the same thing with man? It’s impossible to say for sure. However, remember that the world was made to be perfect. Before the Fall, Adam could educate everyone not only about God, but about his own experiences. One of those experiences was loneliness. God knew that there could be times when people questioned why there were so many others on the earth. Adam could tell them that it was no fun to be alone, away from fellow humans. He could then elaborate on how God had given him an equal.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Gen. 2:19
The start of this verse means that the Lord God had formed the animals at some point before Adam. It reads the way it does because of the way language is used. Adam was not made before any of them. However, he was given a special duty which shows God’s love, and also shows man’s intended superiority over the animls, in that he was given the responsibility of naming them.
Once God formed them, and then made Adam, He sent them to Adam just as He would with Noah later. Animals have instincts that cause them to go where God leads. The fish were not part of this because they wouldn’t have been able to make the trek.
Though the Bible says that among them all was not a help meet found, that doesn’t mean every single one was tested for this purpose. They may have been, we don’t know. Before the Fall, animals were naturally obedient and tame, so it is possible that even plephants and giraffes were among the possible help meets. The giraffe would certainly have a long enough neck to reach things man couldn’t.
More importantly, the fact that whatever Adam called them, that was the name of them, shows the incredible mind that Adam and Eve had. Consider the vast imagination, the incredible perception, and the mental stamina that Adam had to have to be ble to name all those animals. True, we only had kinds, as noted earlier. There was only one canine, not a wolf many breeds of dog, and so on. However, it still required a genius to be able to do allo of this. This demonstrates how far people have come since the Fall.Not only have our bodies broken down, so, too, have our minds.
So, what did he call them? He likely used names that would describe them in some way. Perhaps it was by their looks, their agility, or something else. It’s possible that these were even scientific-type names, though that isn’t as likely. The term implies that they were what the animals were regularly called. On the other hand, it’s not out of the question that Adam engaged in scientific classification as well. It’s not certain that he only gave one name to every creature. Even if this was only done later, it still shows Adam’s mind. It also demonstrates that language was granted to man immediately.
Once God formed them, and then made Adam, He sent them to Adam just as He would with Noah later. Animals have instincts that cause them to go where God leads. The fish were not part of this because they wouldn’t have been able to make the trek.
Though the Bible says that among them all was not a help meet found, that doesn’t mean every single one was tested for this purpose. They may have been, we don’t know. Before the Fall, animals were naturally obedient and tame, so it is possible that even plephants and giraffes were among the possible help meets. The giraffe would certainly have a long enough neck to reach things man couldn’t.
More importantly, the fact that whatever Adam called them, that was the name of them, shows the incredible mind that Adam and Eve had. Consider the vast imagination, the incredible perception, and the mental stamina that Adam had to have to be ble to name all those animals. True, we only had kinds, as noted earlier. There was only one canine, not a wolf many breeds of dog, and so on. However, it still required a genius to be able to do allo of this. This demonstrates how far people have come since the Fall.Not only have our bodies broken down, so, too, have our minds.
So, what did he call them? He likely used names that would describe them in some way. Perhaps it was by their looks, their agility, or something else. It’s possible that these were even scientific-type names, though that isn’t as likely. The term implies that they were what the animals were regularly called. On the other hand, it’s not out of the question that Adam engaged in scientific classification as well. It’s not certain that he only gave one name to every creature. Even if this was only done later, it still shows Adam’s mind. It also demonstrates that language was granted to man immediately.
Gen. 2:18
It is not good that man should be alone – what an interesting statement. It’s great to fellowship with God. However, God, in saying this, reveals important things.
First, He is far more powerful than man. Yes, it’s great that man could fellowship with Him. It was more wonderful then than it is now. Back then, God could come down and communicate personally with man. Now, it must be done through prayer. And, even when a person has trusted in Christ for salvation, if that person has sin in their heart, God can’t hear their prayer. (Ps. 66:18)
So, why wasn’t it enough for man to hang out with God? Because man needed someone on his level. Adam needed an equal. He needed a relationship with someone with whom he could share happiness over knowing the Lord. However, he also needed someone who could do it on the same intellectual level. God, as Creator, could never share the joy of being one of God’s creatures, of having God’s protection and provision.
Adam was always small and insignificant compared to God; even back then, the relationship was not like two buddies. God was still reaching down in love to fellowship with the man. It’s just that this was possible, with no mediator, before the Fall.
This lets us know, in our prayer life, just how important it is to reverence God. Yes, we can go boldly before the throne of Grace. He understands all our infirmities. And yet, He is separate from us on two levels. One is obvious – we are sinful creatures. He can’t sin. Even while living on Earth, Jesus Christ never once sinned. The second is that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. (Is. 55:8-9) He has an understand of the world, the past, present, and future, and everything that we just can’t grasp, no matter how hard we try. And, Adam and Eve, even in their perfect state before the Fall, couldn’t match that.
Along with this, we see that even angels would not have been enough. Yes, they are also God’s creatures, but they were created one at a time. Adam, on the other hand, was meant to start a race – the human race, the only true race there is. This was God’s plan to replenish the earth, through families filled with love.
A third thing He reveals in saying it isn’t good for man to be alone is that man is a social creature. Yes, there are some people, especially those with an autism spectrum condition, who have problems with human contact. Interestingly, they still harbor some desire for contact, as they often enjoy animals. However, the point is, any lack of interest in human contact is because of the Fall.
All the good things about human contact are indicated here, in God’s desire to provide this help meet. Unconditional love, stability, peace, and every other positive thing about humanity was brought out in this desire to provide man companionship. So, too, was a division of labor. Yes, man could domesticate animals, and soon would. However, a true help meet would be able to share in the same things man could do. They could work together, co-operating in the task at hand, the keeping of the Garden. This help meet was to be a perfect compliment to Adam. God had a rule for man, but He also provided for all of man’s needs.
First, He is far more powerful than man. Yes, it’s great that man could fellowship with Him. It was more wonderful then than it is now. Back then, God could come down and communicate personally with man. Now, it must be done through prayer. And, even when a person has trusted in Christ for salvation, if that person has sin in their heart, God can’t hear their prayer. (Ps. 66:18)
So, why wasn’t it enough for man to hang out with God? Because man needed someone on his level. Adam needed an equal. He needed a relationship with someone with whom he could share happiness over knowing the Lord. However, he also needed someone who could do it on the same intellectual level. God, as Creator, could never share the joy of being one of God’s creatures, of having God’s protection and provision.
Adam was always small and insignificant compared to God; even back then, the relationship was not like two buddies. God was still reaching down in love to fellowship with the man. It’s just that this was possible, with no mediator, before the Fall.
This lets us know, in our prayer life, just how important it is to reverence God. Yes, we can go boldly before the throne of Grace. He understands all our infirmities. And yet, He is separate from us on two levels. One is obvious – we are sinful creatures. He can’t sin. Even while living on Earth, Jesus Christ never once sinned. The second is that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. (Is. 55:8-9) He has an understand of the world, the past, present, and future, and everything that we just can’t grasp, no matter how hard we try. And, Adam and Eve, even in their perfect state before the Fall, couldn’t match that.
Along with this, we see that even angels would not have been enough. Yes, they are also God’s creatures, but they were created one at a time. Adam, on the other hand, was meant to start a race – the human race, the only true race there is. This was God’s plan to replenish the earth, through families filled with love.
A third thing He reveals in saying it isn’t good for man to be alone is that man is a social creature. Yes, there are some people, especially those with an autism spectrum condition, who have problems with human contact. Interestingly, they still harbor some desire for contact, as they often enjoy animals. However, the point is, any lack of interest in human contact is because of the Fall.
All the good things about human contact are indicated here, in God’s desire to provide this help meet. Unconditional love, stability, peace, and every other positive thing about humanity was brought out in this desire to provide man companionship. So, too, was a division of labor. Yes, man could domesticate animals, and soon would. However, a true help meet would be able to share in the same things man could do. They could work together, co-operating in the task at hand, the keeping of the Garden. This help meet was to be a perfect compliment to Adam. God had a rule for man, but He also provided for all of man’s needs.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Gen. 2:17
God lovingly explained not only the rule, but said in very specific language what the result would be. There are several interesting points.
First, it was about eating. Why eating? Eating allows people to grow. It provides nourishment. It provides pleasure, too, as long as you like the food. Pleasure food doesn’t have to be bad for you, after all, though some foods are better than others.
Taking this analogy further, God was saying there is one food here that is poisonous. It wou lnot only pro ide no nutritional value, it would actually destroy, in the same way swallowing a poison today can cause many bad things, even death. However, it wasn’t a poison like we think of today. It was a poison to man’s spiritual well being.
Ye shall surely die was not just a warning that they would die physically, although they would eventually. The Hebrew states, “dying, you shall die,” meaning that there would not only be a death right away, but a continual process of dying that would end in physical death, as well.
God told Adam that this death would happen at that moment. This was spiritual death. Remember that man had a body, soul, and spirit at first; the Spirit was how he could commune with God. That Spirit would depart from man if he ate from that tree. He would be spiritually poisoned.
This was as clear as it could be. Even the name – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – spelled it out. Adam didn’t know how to do evil, until the time when he chose to disobey God. Tradition says it was an apple tree, though we don’t know for sure. What we know is that God called that tree by a specific name not because it was some unique type of tree, but because it was the tree with which He would test Adam to see if he wanted to obey God willingly. God didn’t want him to be a mindless robot. God wanted Adam to be free to choose to obey Him.
When Adam and Eve rebelled, God had a plan all ready. It was a plan that would replace the food which had been consumed as spiritual poison, and would instead restore man to spiritual health.
Jesus Christ is the bread of life. Each person must receive Him personally, receiving His forgiveness for their sins, to have that relationship with God restored. This is true for reasons we’ll explore further later. To put it simply here, one is because mankind inherited a sin nature from Adam. The second is because every person has sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) We don’t all commit the same sins, but every person has chosen at some point to fall short of God’s mark, which is perfection. Thankfully, God has chosen to forgive us.
First, it was about eating. Why eating? Eating allows people to grow. It provides nourishment. It provides pleasure, too, as long as you like the food. Pleasure food doesn’t have to be bad for you, after all, though some foods are better than others.
Taking this analogy further, God was saying there is one food here that is poisonous. It wou lnot only pro ide no nutritional value, it would actually destroy, in the same way swallowing a poison today can cause many bad things, even death. However, it wasn’t a poison like we think of today. It was a poison to man’s spiritual well being.
Ye shall surely die was not just a warning that they would die physically, although they would eventually. The Hebrew states, “dying, you shall die,” meaning that there would not only be a death right away, but a continual process of dying that would end in physical death, as well.
God told Adam that this death would happen at that moment. This was spiritual death. Remember that man had a body, soul, and spirit at first; the Spirit was how he could commune with God. That Spirit would depart from man if he ate from that tree. He would be spiritually poisoned.
This was as clear as it could be. Even the name – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – spelled it out. Adam didn’t know how to do evil, until the time when he chose to disobey God. Tradition says it was an apple tree, though we don’t know for sure. What we know is that God called that tree by a specific name not because it was some unique type of tree, but because it was the tree with which He would test Adam to see if he wanted to obey God willingly. God didn’t want him to be a mindless robot. God wanted Adam to be free to choose to obey Him.
When Adam and Eve rebelled, God had a plan all ready. It was a plan that would replace the food which had been consumed as spiritual poison, and would instead restore man to spiritual health.
Jesus Christ is the bread of life. Each person must receive Him personally, receiving His forgiveness for their sins, to have that relationship with God restored. This is true for reasons we’ll explore further later. To put it simply here, one is because mankind inherited a sin nature from Adam. The second is because every person has sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) We don’t all commit the same sins, but every person has chosen at some point to fall short of God’s mark, which is perfection. Thankfully, God has chosen to forgive us.
Gen 2:16
The devil has tricked people into thinking that God never gives us choices. This verse proves that God loves to give us choices. If only Adam and Eve had focused on what they could do. They could eat of the fruit of every tree of the Garden, except one.
Choices within rules are always there. Sometimes there can’t be very many choices within the rules, but there are always some. Even strict “no” things – like “don’t touch that hot stove – contain things which may be done instead – like “you may play nicely with this, this, or this.”
Here, God shows His love for us in that He tells Adam specifically what he can do. There is only one restriction, which we’ll get to with the next verse. But, first, God tells him that there are many things he can do without breaking the rule. God is not in the habit of just implying things. He communicates very clearly if there is something which is definitely right or wrong. This is one example. He spells it out in such detail that Adam can’t miss it. Why? He didn’t want there to be any confusion.
Today, on the other hand, the devil had clouded things. The Gospel is hidden by some because they confuse it with works. God never meant for works to save Adam. Adam was already in the Garden of Eden – he was already there by God’s grace.
What he had was untested creature holiness. In other words, Adam could sin if he chose to; he hadn’t yet been tested. It was the same with the devil and all the other angels. The devil had been the beautiful cherub which was around the throne of God. (Ez. 28:13-17) He chose to try to take over and be “like the Most High.” (Is. 14:12-14) His pride brought him down once he was tested.
Now, Adam had the same choice. He could do many things within the rules, though. There was just one thing he couldn’t do. That was named in the next verse.
Choices within rules are always there. Sometimes there can’t be very many choices within the rules, but there are always some. Even strict “no” things – like “don’t touch that hot stove – contain things which may be done instead – like “you may play nicely with this, this, or this.”
Here, God shows His love for us in that He tells Adam specifically what he can do. There is only one restriction, which we’ll get to with the next verse. But, first, God tells him that there are many things he can do without breaking the rule. God is not in the habit of just implying things. He communicates very clearly if there is something which is definitely right or wrong. This is one example. He spells it out in such detail that Adam can’t miss it. Why? He didn’t want there to be any confusion.
Today, on the other hand, the devil had clouded things. The Gospel is hidden by some because they confuse it with works. God never meant for works to save Adam. Adam was already in the Garden of Eden – he was already there by God’s grace.
What he had was untested creature holiness. In other words, Adam could sin if he chose to; he hadn’t yet been tested. It was the same with the devil and all the other angels. The devil had been the beautiful cherub which was around the throne of God. (Ez. 28:13-17) He chose to try to take over and be “like the Most High.” (Is. 14:12-14) His pride brought him down once he was tested.
Now, Adam had the same choice. He could do many things within the rules, though. There was just one thing he couldn’t do. That was named in the next verse.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Gen. 2:15
God reveals His special purpose for man in this verse. This tells us a lot about God, and His love for His creation. We’ve looked at how man was placed in the garden. There are a few other really neat things to see here, too.
First, The man had a purpose. Being bored isn’t fun. Even if a person has very limited brain power, they still want to be doing something. It might be seen as “play” to others, but even what children do is exercising their minds.
Think about it. When a child throws a ball in the air and tries to catch it, that child is learning about a number of things. They are seeing gravity at work. They are learning about how wind currents carry things, if they are outside. They are learning about angle of descent and depth perception and all kidns of neat things about how that ball falls. They are also learning fine motor skills – closing the hand around the ball – and large motor skills – moving the arms to reach out for it. They are learning how to use those, as well as hand-eye coordination.
This doesn’t mean that every time a child is playing he or she is actively trying to learn these things. And, some play is just idle fun. However, they are learnings kills which can then be used as illustrations when they learn how the body works, how gravity impacts things,a nd so on.
Man was given a job. His job was to keep the garden. Notice that God doesn’t say how the man was to do it. He could have put all sorts of interesting decorations and patterns in the garden if he wanted. His job was simply to dress the garden, and keep things growing. This, in turn, allowed him to keep his mind active. Considering the greatly advanced minds Adam and Eve likely had, his mind may have been on many things. However, one important thing could occupy his mind as he took care of the garden. He could fellowship with God, as noted earlier.
God wanted man to be able to learn all about the natural laws – like gravity – that He’d put into force, but more importantly, about His great love. The easiest wway to do that was to give the man the chance to be in wonderful natural surroundings, free from worry, and totally relying on God for his well-being.
So, why not just relax and “take it easy?” Because the need to relax only comes about because of our fallen nature. Yes, some people take it to an extreme, but even with those who would rather sleep than do anything, they are doing so because of something that is missing from their life, something which may indicate a chemical problem or it may indicate a spiritual problem.
Normally, though, people relax because they want to escape stress. There was no stress in the perfect Garden of Eden which God provided for man; or, to put it better, there wasn't the bad kind of stress. A certain amount is healthy; such as that created by a job you love, in a life with no worries.
That was life in the Garden of Eden. He didn’t need to worry about taxes, mortgages, family problems, or anything bad. He was like a small child, who has no cares in the world. In a good family surrounded by love, that child will have no worries. They know someone cares for them, loves them, and will provide all their needs and protect them from any problems. They are free to do their job. And, doing that job is very simple, because there are no worries to distract him or her. So, too, this man was free to do his job. And, since it had no burdens, no worries, associated with it, it was something which he would love.
First, The man had a purpose. Being bored isn’t fun. Even if a person has very limited brain power, they still want to be doing something. It might be seen as “play” to others, but even what children do is exercising their minds.
Think about it. When a child throws a ball in the air and tries to catch it, that child is learning about a number of things. They are seeing gravity at work. They are learning about how wind currents carry things, if they are outside. They are learning about angle of descent and depth perception and all kidns of neat things about how that ball falls. They are also learning fine motor skills – closing the hand around the ball – and large motor skills – moving the arms to reach out for it. They are learning how to use those, as well as hand-eye coordination.
This doesn’t mean that every time a child is playing he or she is actively trying to learn these things. And, some play is just idle fun. However, they are learnings kills which can then be used as illustrations when they learn how the body works, how gravity impacts things,a nd so on.
Man was given a job. His job was to keep the garden. Notice that God doesn’t say how the man was to do it. He could have put all sorts of interesting decorations and patterns in the garden if he wanted. His job was simply to dress the garden, and keep things growing. This, in turn, allowed him to keep his mind active. Considering the greatly advanced minds Adam and Eve likely had, his mind may have been on many things. However, one important thing could occupy his mind as he took care of the garden. He could fellowship with God, as noted earlier.
God wanted man to be able to learn all about the natural laws – like gravity – that He’d put into force, but more importantly, about His great love. The easiest wway to do that was to give the man the chance to be in wonderful natural surroundings, free from worry, and totally relying on God for his well-being.
So, why not just relax and “take it easy?” Because the need to relax only comes about because of our fallen nature. Yes, some people take it to an extreme, but even with those who would rather sleep than do anything, they are doing so because of something that is missing from their life, something which may indicate a chemical problem or it may indicate a spiritual problem.
Normally, though, people relax because they want to escape stress. There was no stress in the perfect Garden of Eden which God provided for man; or, to put it better, there wasn't the bad kind of stress. A certain amount is healthy; such as that created by a job you love, in a life with no worries.
That was life in the Garden of Eden. He didn’t need to worry about taxes, mortgages, family problems, or anything bad. He was like a small child, who has no cares in the world. In a good family surrounded by love, that child will have no worries. They know someone cares for them, loves them, and will provide all their needs and protect them from any problems. They are free to do their job. And, doing that job is very simple, because there are no worries to distract him or her. So, too, this man was free to do his job. And, since it had no burdens, no worries, associated with it, it was something which he would love.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Gen. 2:10-14 - Location of Eden
Gen. 2:10-14 – Placement of Eden
Here, we will take a brief look at the placement of Eden.
It’s a testimony to man’s attempt to solve things himself that pretty much everyplace has been considered as the place for Eden. Some, in their foolish pride, tried to place it in Europe. Others, trying to ignore the actual meanings of words, tried to place it in the air. Some people say something a bit more logical – they say it is a place which the Flood of Noah not only destroyed, but placed underwater. So, where was it?
First, we get a clue a few verses back that it was eastward. This would be from the perspective of the readers. Moses’ first readers were Hebrews, meaning it was somewhere east of where they were.
Two rivers are major ones we know today – the Tigris and Euphrates. The other two may be in far northern Iraq or the Armenia area, while others believe it may have been in southern Iraq. While it doesn’t matter, there are a few things to think about here.
First, it’s true that the world changed a lot after Noah’s Flood. The waters of the deep were opened, so that water flew into the air like a million geysers, at the same time that the rains poured down on the earth. So did the geography change, too? It might have – that would explain what scientists believe about there being one large continent at one time, called Pangaea. The earth could have been ripped apart, as the Flood lasted months, the “40 days and 40 nights” mist think of was only the amount of rain. However, it isn’t necessary. The Flood could have deposited billions of dead things in layers – mostly near water – all over the Earth quite well without a breakup. See the website www.answersingenesis.org for more details, searching terms like Pangaea or underwater. It should be noted that an earthquake in Revalation is said to be like no other, and islands will even disappear or be combined with land. So, it is at least possible; but the disruption would have to be less than the Revelation earthquake.
Second, the important thing in this verse is not where, but the fact that there was such an idyllic place It was a region which was more fabulous and pristine than any other on earth. It didn’t survive to the present day, but Paradise will be restored one day. However, in describing the land, notice that even in Moses’ day, he talks about the goodness of parts of it; not only with the wealth in stones he mentions, but the gold. He says the golf of the land is good – of course, pure gold is always good. However, he is emphasizing this, again, to show God’s grace. He left some of that beauty through the minerals and stones, even though the real blissfulness isn’t there anymore.
Here, we will take a brief look at the placement of Eden.
It’s a testimony to man’s attempt to solve things himself that pretty much everyplace has been considered as the place for Eden. Some, in their foolish pride, tried to place it in Europe. Others, trying to ignore the actual meanings of words, tried to place it in the air. Some people say something a bit more logical – they say it is a place which the Flood of Noah not only destroyed, but placed underwater. So, where was it?
First, we get a clue a few verses back that it was eastward. This would be from the perspective of the readers. Moses’ first readers were Hebrews, meaning it was somewhere east of where they were.
Two rivers are major ones we know today – the Tigris and Euphrates. The other two may be in far northern Iraq or the Armenia area, while others believe it may have been in southern Iraq. While it doesn’t matter, there are a few things to think about here.
First, it’s true that the world changed a lot after Noah’s Flood. The waters of the deep were opened, so that water flew into the air like a million geysers, at the same time that the rains poured down on the earth. So did the geography change, too? It might have – that would explain what scientists believe about there being one large continent at one time, called Pangaea. The earth could have been ripped apart, as the Flood lasted months, the “40 days and 40 nights” mist think of was only the amount of rain. However, it isn’t necessary. The Flood could have deposited billions of dead things in layers – mostly near water – all over the Earth quite well without a breakup. See the website www.answersingenesis.org for more details, searching terms like Pangaea or underwater. It should be noted that an earthquake in Revalation is said to be like no other, and islands will even disappear or be combined with land. So, it is at least possible; but the disruption would have to be less than the Revelation earthquake.
Second, the important thing in this verse is not where, but the fact that there was such an idyllic place It was a region which was more fabulous and pristine than any other on earth. It didn’t survive to the present day, but Paradise will be restored one day. However, in describing the land, notice that even in Moses’ day, he talks about the goodness of parts of it; not only with the wealth in stones he mentions, but the gold. He says the golf of the land is good – of course, pure gold is always good. However, he is emphasizing this, again, to show God’s grace. He left some of that beauty through the minerals and stones, even though the real blissfulness isn’t there anymore.
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