Genesis 2

Genesis 2

This chapter continues to tell the creation account, only now, on the seventh day there is nothing left to create. So God rested, thus creating another aspect of our lives, a day of rest. The seventh day, whether it is Saturday or Sunday it does not matter, is set aside even today for such purposes, or at least should be. Just as God provides an example for our lives through His actions in other portions of Scripture, God gives us an example with His seventh day of rest.

I have heard that Genesis 2 is the second account of creation in the Bible, but to me it appears as if it is only retelling, or further telling, what happened on the sixth day. It does offer a review of what the world was like after six days, but it then goes into a detailed discussion on how God created man, Adam. It is also interesting to note that when God created Adam, He created him to work. He was immediately placed in the garden to tend to the rest of creation. God did not create us to be lazy, or to expect our well being from others. He created us to maintain His creation, something that we have failed to do. Maybe the “green” people go too far with many of their claims, but biblically, we should seriously consider doing our part in protecting our planet, those things which God has given us.

Shortly after Adam was put to work, he was given his first command. God did not allow Adam to roam freely on the earth doing whatever he saw fit, and God does not allow that for His children today. Boundaries are set up for a reason, for our protection. Thus, God warned Adam about the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This tree would bring about certain death for Adam, and the command God gave was not to be mean or overpowering but to be protective, as a parent. This says a lot for the boundaries given to us by our parents, bosses, and governments. Most of the time, and I do realize that this is not always going to be the case, these boundaries, rules, or laws, are given for our protection. We must discern how they line up with Scripture of course, but in general, we are expected to adhere to them just as Adam was expected to obey this first command.

Finally, this chapter offers the picture of marriage. When thinking of marriage, many will gravitate to either Genesis 2 or 1 Corinthians 13, both appropriate passages. In this chapter, it becomes clear that God intended for marriage to be between a man and a woman, and there were no other options. It does not matter what our culture tells us or how many times that we are told that we are being intolerant, Scripture is clear. We must turn to this passage and follow God’s ways. Again, He is the creator, and we are to mimic Him. If God intended for marriage to be between a man and a woman, and if that is the way He first performed the ceremony, then we too must not falter from this command. At this point in the story, there are two people on the earth, Adam and Eve, and everything is still going according to God’s plan. This is the world that God had created, and Genesis 1-2 is the picture of how God had intended that it stay.

Matt