Week 3 – Genesis 2.15-25: An Introduction to Us, Part 2

By: Matt Barnes

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Introduction

There are certain things that just don’t work well unless they are lined up properly. One example of this is a marching band. Each participant needs to be in the right place at the right time, playing the right note in the right time! Sure, they can still technically march and play if they aren’t in right relationship with one another and the piece of music, but it won’t be beautiful!

Well, in Genesis 2 we see that God intended for things to be lined up just so for us as well. He always intended for us to be in right relationship with him, one another, and the rest of the created order. In so doing, we get to share in the beauty that God has set out for us—the beauty for which we were made!

We see that God desires a right relationship with humans by the fact that he created us in his image. We’re the only part of creation with this privilege! We’re also the only ones that he talks directly with, on whom he places moral accountability (“you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” [Genesis 2.17]), and with whom he shares authority (as we’ll see shortly). God always intended to have a right relationship with us!

We see that God desires a right relationship between humans as well. Everything in creation was seen by God as good or very good in Genesis 1. This holds up until we come to Genesis 2.18 when he notices that it was not good for the first human to be alone. God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, understood the value of connection and graciously alleviated the loneliness of the first human by creating for him a suitable partner. Furthermore, the natural implication of each of us being made in the image of God is that we should treat one another with respect and dignity, illustrating that we are in fact in right relationship with one another.

And we see that God desires a right relationship between humans and the rest of the created order also. The first human was placed within the garden to take care of it and to work it (Genesis 2.15). It was his job to cultivate and protect the garden, not to destroy, pollute, and abuse it. Then we see in Genesis 2.19-20 that God shared with the first human his authority, which can be seen in the fact that the man was given the privilege of naming the animals. From all of this we can see that God always intended humans to be in right relationship with the rest of creation!

As followers of Jesus, when we obey God’s commands and submit to the ways of Jesus, we begin, thanks to the power of the Spirit, to live out our relationships with God, others, and the world more and more rightly!

“Science has provided me a way to serve God by discovering more about his creation and using that knowledge to better humanity.”

- Jessica DeWitt, PhD. Candidate in Neurobiology

Bible Questions

• Read Genesis 2.15-25. What was the relationship between God and the first humans like? What can we learn about our relationship with God from theirs?
• God only gave the first man the command not to eat from a certain tree. Why do you think that was? What does this say about humans when compared to the rest of creation?
• In Genesis 1 God uses the word “good” to describe creation seven times. Then in Genesis 2.18 he says that it is not good that the first man was alone. What does this reveal to you about the innate nature of humans? Is it good for any of us to be alone today? Why or why not?
• Look at Genesis 2.15 and 2.19-20. What do these verses reveal about the intended relationship between humans and the rest of creation? How do these verses apply to our relationship with the rest of creation today?
• Each of the relationships in Genesis 2 are severely hindered today—our relationship with God, one another, and creation. What went wrong? What can be done to fix these relationships?

Reflection Questions

• When reading Genesis 2.15-25, what do you see that points out how worthy of worship God is? Why does what you found cause you to want to worship him more?
• For the longest time, people have implicitly or explicitly claimed that some humans have more or less of the image of God than others. What is problematic about this idea? How can we combat it individually and as a community?
• One of the things that people who have yet to submit to Jesus say about Christians is that we are guilty of a ton of infighting. Is this true? And how would our witness in the world improve if we better exhibited God’s desire for us to be in right relationship with one another inside the Church?

Take Away

Focus this week on one of these relationships: with God, others, or the rest of creation. Take practical steps to begin to surrender to the ways of Jesus in big and small ways. 

"I find it comforting and emboldening that science and the Bible agree: both the universe and life have 'miraculous beginnings.'"

- Dave Rumph, Software Developer