Genesis 2:15-17

God Creates Earth And Heaven

Did you notice why the man was put in the garden? Work is not a result of sin; work is part of God’s original plan. I want this to be part of your mindset as you go about your work today. Whether it is paid or volunteer, in an office or the field, whether you have a boss or you work for yourself, working is part of God’s plan. Work being difficult and the ground being tough was because of sin, but man’s role in the garden was to work and care for it. Work is God’s design.

Not only do these verses sanctify work as God-given, but they also remind us all that the first job of man was to care for the earth. The first responsibility that God gave humanity was to take care of the earth. Not just rule over the earth like Genesis 1:28 says, but to care for creation. This mandate means that we should take care of the earth now. We pick up litter and do not pollute rivers and the air. We recycle when possible and reduce waste. God’s first job for man was to work the ground and take care of it. How does that change how you think about your responsibility to the earth?

Genesis 2:8-14

God Creates Earth And Heaven

Yesterday, we read of God creating man. Today, we read of God creating the man’s home: Eden. Eden is an idyllic paradise that is as lush and beautiful, and perfect as any home in history. God created this home to be sustainable and permanent. The land was everything the man would need and more. The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil were in the garden. That will be important when we read Genesis 3 next week.

I am always impressed with the description of the Garden of Eden. I am even more impressed when I read Revelation 22. In Revelation 22, we read of a new Eden that God provides for all of humanity. Even after we fall short of the glory of God, God gives us a second chance in the New Creation. The Tree of Life returns in the New Creation, producing crops for us to eat year-round. And in the New Creation, there is no more crying, no more pain, no more chance at disobeying the will of God. I am thankful that God created the world. I am even more thankful that, despite the mess that humans have made, God has promised to recreate the world to its original glory. 

Genesis 2:4-7

God Creates Earth And Heaven

To get the most out of Genesis 2:4-25, it is important not to try to fit this story and the first chapter of Genesis into one story. They have two purposes, and consolidating them is not that purpose. If they were supposed to be one story, then the writer of Genesis would have combined them to be one story. That is not their purpose. So, what is the purpose of Genesis 2:4-25? These verses give us a more personal, intimate look at the relationship between God and humanity. It also gives us a closer inspection of the relationship between man and creation. 

In our reading for today, God breathes the breath of life into the man. God not only creates the man, but He also gives the man the breath in his lungs. It is like God is giving a part of Himself to live in the man. In the future, God will indeed give man a part of Himself that can live within him. The Spirit of God can live inside all who choose life with God. God gave life to the first man; God gives eternal life to all who desire the Spirit of God to live inside them. From the beginning, God has been in a relationship with humanity.