Contributor: Ngozi Roberts
INTRODUCTION
In our study of Genesis Chapter 1 we saw the emphasizes on the power and authority of God as the Creator of the universe. It highlighted the intentional and orderly nature of creation, the inherent goodness of all that God has made, and the special role of humans as stewards of the earth. It describes the creation of the world by God over six days. It presents a systematic and ordered account of how God brings the universe into existence and sets the foundation for life.
Before beginning with Genesis chapter 2, we should go back to the end of Genesis chapter 1, which, when rightly divided clearly ends with the first 3 verses of chapter 2.
Genesis Chapter 2 elaborates on the creation story, focusing more specifically on the creation of humanity and the Garden of Eden. It highlights the intimate relationship between God and humans and sets the stage for the events in the following chapters.
Completion of Creation - Genesis 2:1-3
So as pointed out in the introduction, these first three verses should actually end chapter 1.
God ended his work on the sixth day and He rested on the seventh. God didn't rest because He was tired, but because his activity was finished at the time. Note that when the Bible records that Jesus Christ ascended into the heavens and sat down, the same word "rested" is used. His job was finished. In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, the spirit sat on each of the believers, the same word "rested" is used. The word "rested" is often used in the Bible to represent a work that is finished.
So, these verses conclude the creation narrative from Chapter 1. God finishes His work of creation and rests on the seventh day, blessing and sanctifying it.
Creation - Genesis 2:4-6
This passage shifts from a broad overview to a more detailed account of the creation of the heavens and the earth. It describes the state of the earth before the creation of man, with no shrubs or plants yet because there had been no rain and no one to work the ground. We see here that God wanted someone to till or serve the ground, but there was no one. So God sent up a mist from the whole earth to water the ground.
Creation of Man - Genesis 2:7
God forms man from the dust of the ground and breathes into his nostrils the breath of life, and man becomes a living being.
The Hebrew word for "formed" is yatsar, which means "fashioned out of something already in existence."
The term "man" is adam, meaning "red earth," indicating that man's body is composed of the same elements as the earth.
The Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:8-14
God plants a garden in Eden, placing man there. The garden contains all kinds of trees, including the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flows from Eden, dividing into four headwaters: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris (Hiddekel), and Euphrates.
Here we have mention of the Garden of Eden or paradise. Paradise is a heaven on earth where God was with man and could talk to man. There was no sickness, sin, or death. Paradise is always a place on earth according to God's Word. So we find "paradise" in Genesis Chapter 2 and never again until Revelation 21, when there is a new heaven and a new earth. This verse tells us that this is where God originally put man whom He had formed - in paradise here on earth. This brings us to one important point which is the relationship between new heaven and a new earth in chapter 2 and new heaven and a new earth in Revelation 21.
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
So when we look at these two new heaven and new earth, we see some sort of relationship:
• Restoration of Paradise
• God's Presence .
• Fulfilment of God's Plan
Verse 9 talks about the trees that God made to grow in the Garden of Eden. Now here is an occurrence where the Word makes mention of the "tree of life" and the "tree of knowledge of good and evil". Two significant trees are mentioned, representing life and moral choice.
"And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil".
These trees introduce themes of obedience and free will.
Some scholars interpret it to be another Figure of Speech called HENDIADYS - "Two words used, but one thing meant." The phrase "of good and evil" literally means "of evil enjoyment."
They believe that this does help us in understanding more about this tree. Apparently, it was the source of some type of pleasure that God did not approve of. However it is the lesson that is important. What is this lesson? We note that God gave Adam and Eve all they could ever want and asked them not to do one thing! The enemy is a master of deception and the only thing that defeats him is the rightly divided Word of God.
When living in the renewed mind of a believer, the Word of God allows us to live as more than conquerors.
Romans 8: 37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
You've got to know the genuine ‘Gods’ word’ to be able to recognize the counterfeit [part truths and half-truths.]. that is why 2Timothy2:15 tells us to:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth
Man's Role and Command - Genesis 2:15-17
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
God places man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. God assigns Adam the task of tending the garden, highlighting the value of work and stewardship indicating purposeful labour. He commands man to freely eat from any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that eating from it will result in death.
Here we are introduced to the concept of free will and morality. "Death" referred to is a spiritual death, meaning a separation from God. So what died the day Adam and Eve ate of this tree? Did Adam and Eve die? No, they went on to live for a long time. This is where it is crucial to understand the difference between body, soul, and spirit as defined from God's Word.
Remember in verse 7, God formed the body of man and made his soul. Then back in Genesis 1: 26 we learned that God created man in his own image and we know that God is Spirit and that God created Spirit for man. That is what died when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. they lost their spiritual connection with God and were now just body and soul. So we can say that God took the Spirit back or that man spirt became unregenerate or degenerated which is a state of decline, deterioration, or corruption, often implying a return to a less ideal or morally degraded condition. So God drove them out of the garden of Eden as we will see when we study chapter three.
Remember, the Bible was written for the believer, not for the unbeliever. As a result of this sin by Adam and Eve, every person is still born into this world today as a BODY and SOUL person with an unregenerate spirit. They must confess Jesus Christ as Lord in their life and believe that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead to be born again of God's Spirit or regenerated Spirit and therefore become body, soul, and SPIRIT. This transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, who brings new life to the individual's spirit, making them spiritually alive and connected to God.
The Creation of Woman - Genesis 2:18-25
God recognizes that it is not good for man to be alone and decides to make a suitable helper for him. After creating various animals and bringing them to the man to name, God causes the man to fall into a deep sleep, takes one of his ribs, and creates a woman from it. The man and woman are described as one flesh, highlighting the unity and partnership in marriage.
The term "helper" (ezer) implies a companion who complements and supports. And the unity of marriage is emphasized with the phrase "one flesh."
Verses 18, 19 and 20.
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam] no suitable helper was found.
This is after Adam had given names to all of God's creatures. Notice that it is brought up that there was not yet found an help meet for Adam. He was lonely and needed someone to keep him company and to help or assist him.
We may wonder why so many marriages fail today when God is usually last and not first in the married couple's life. God spells out many details of how we should conduct ourselves in a Christian marriage relationship in His Word. And way back in Genesis, God, our Heavenly Father, says, in regard to man, "I will make an help meet for him." There are definitely two parties involved here, but in this case, God is saying that a woman should bring the best out of a man through assistance. That is so important but unfortunately, we see the opposite often times. And yes, men also do the same. Ecclesiastes 4:12 talks about a Godly marriage as a three-fold cord that is not easily broken. The three cords that are interwoven are God, man and woman. When God is first in both people's lives, that marriage relationship is like a rock. The winds may blow, but it stands -- it can't be moved.
Verse 21-22 -21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Here seems to me to be a case where God was finally able to get something done for a man of God because the man was in a position where he had to "let go and let God". He was asleep! Have you ever noticed that most times it is when we stop worrying about a problem and relax in believing God, that is when solution come! Oftentimes, our doubts, worries, and fears hinder or limit God. The creation of woman from man's rib underscores the complementary nature of the sexes and the foundation of marriage.
Isn't it just wonderful how God works with us? He waited for Adam to be deeply asleep when He performed quite a major operation. He made a woman out of the long rib of man and He brought her unto the man. Could you picture the reaction of Adam? God wants to bless us His children and meet our needs. He knew Adam had a need and a want that were equal in intensity. That is one of the requirements we must meet to receive anything from God.
Verse 23-23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of 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. Here is another beautiful illustration of the Holy Spirit's marking as to what is important in His Word. God wants to grab our attention and make us stop, think, and take notice by emphasizing - This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh - Though the bone and flesh of Adam were changed and made into Eve, yet the name of the original source, "bone" and "flesh" is retained.
Psalm 139:13-14 Highlights the intimate involvement of God in the creation of each person.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
Verse 24 , 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
We see that it is also repeated almost word for word in Ephesians 5: 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’
and Matthew 19: 5. , ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh
Note that the verse is not saying that a man is to forsake and no longer love or care for his parents. There is a simple but important figure of speech used here called HYPERBOLE or Exaggeration -- "when more is said than is literally meant."
Note also, the phrase "one flesh" used at the end of the verse. A married couple with God first in their lives will eventually reach the point where they have unity of purpose in all that they do. They learn to work together and in cooperation with one another. They put aside all conflict and live according to God's Word manifesting positives (joy, peace, patience, trust etc.) in their marriage relationship. This takes time. Obviously, the phrase "one flesh" is a figure of speech.
So, the chapter concludes with the theme of unity in marriage, as man and woman become one flesh. This verse highlights the intimate and covenantal nature of marriage, reflecting God's design for human relationships. In Mattheew 19:4-6, Jesus reaffirms the sanctity of marriage as instituted in Genesis.
Verse 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame indicating a lack of embarrassment or guilt. They had nothing to hide before God. Man knew his sonship rights with right standing fellowship with God. Just as when we are without condemnation before Christ as rightly said in Romans 8: 1 -- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. We will see later, in chapter three, that man, after the fall, became sin-conscious. It became a sin broken fellowship.
CONCLUSION
Genesis Chapter 2 is rich with theological significance, detailing the creation of humanity and the establishment of the Garden of Eden. It emphasizes the intimate relationship between God and humans, the role and responsibilities of humanity, and the foundations of marriage. The chapter sets the stage for the events that follow, providing essential context for understanding the narrative of the fall in Genesis Chapter 3. God bless us all in Jesus name Amen.
