These three chapters form the basis of the entire Bible. Without some knowledge of the creation and the fall, the rest of scripture cannot be understood.
Here we are introduced to our Creator God. We have a factual and, I believe, literal explanation of creation, but it is also an extremely abbreviated account that is arranged, not so much to satisfy our modern scientific curiosities, but to reveal important truths about God, man and the creation we are a part of.
Summary & Observations:
It is clear that the object of creation was to provide God's image bearer with a home. Mankind is the focal point of God's creation.
Man and woman together bear the image of God.
Mankind's primary tasks as God's image bearer were to tend and keep the garden, to exercise dominion over all creation, and to fill the earth with God's image bearers.
The whole earth in its wonder and bounty is set before the man and woman. The only prohibition is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
A serpent enters the garden and deceives the woman. She eats the forbidden fruit and gives it to her husband who follows her in disobedience to God.
Questions To Consider:
- Cid God use pre-existing materials to make the world (Gen 1:1; Col 1:16,17) ?
- Can you think of other instances in which God's Spirit "hovers" (Gen 8:1; Matt 3:16)?
- Do you see any significance in the order in which things are created?
- What is God's evaluation of the creation?
- How does mankind bear God's image? (think not only in terms of nouns, but verbs)
- What does it mean to rule or exercise dominion over the creation?
- What is involved in tending and keeping the garden?
- What is the serpent's line of attack. What thoughts and feelings is he trying to illicit?
- Where was Adam while Eve talked with the serpent?
- What was immediate the result of their sin?
- Who does God confront first, second and last?
This is certainly among the most profound passages anywhere in the Bible. Because it is so familiar, I often lose a sense of awe that should be in place when reading it. It is also without a doubt, one of the more scientifically scrutinized passages.
ReplyDeleteI had a new thought in reading this passage regarding man bearing an image or being a likeness of God specifically on Earth. God creates a vast world that is good. At what seems to be the center of this new world as described by the geography, he creates a palatial garden. From there, the first man is given the directive to rule, multiply, and give order and shape to this world.
These are all copies of exactly what God has done in Chp 1. He is at the center of a vast universe that is good. He reigns from a palace in the center of creation from which rivers of life flow (similar to the actual Eden). He rules the universe. He creates and multiplies to fill this new space. He gives order and shape to the world.
There are many other ways in which mankind bears God's image but in deference to rule 3... I think that's enough.
Sorry.. that's my comment above.
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