Thursday, September 22, 2005
Genesis 2
Genesis 2.
God's Intimacy:
So if in Genesis 1 we see God create all of the world and creation as we know it, including of course humanity, why does Genesis 2 tell it a different way? The answer is in the language. Genesis 2 is all about the intimate creation of Humanity. Genesis 1 is like looking down from an airplane and viewing Creation, while Genesis 2 is like looking in a mirror and viewing Creation.
Vs. 7
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Last chapter we learned that we are created in God’s image. The Imago Dei is one of the most highly discussed topics in man’s creation. We are made in God’s image. There is no higher image to be created in than God’s. However, before we begin to get to carried away with our creation of highest nobility, we are also told we are created from the dust of the ground. Somewhere between knowing we are created in God’s image, and understanding that we are formed from the dirt, is a right self-understanding, and a right self-image.
Next, we see that God “breathed” life into humanity’s nostrils. The language here is so intimate as God presses His lips to our very own face and breathes the “breath of life” into His favorite creation, humanity. The intimacy with which God created us is the intimacy in which we are to live in throughout our lives. God never would have created us so intimately if we were not supposed to remain in intimate relationship with Him.
Vs. 15
Man is given a vocation and a purpose. God placed our early father Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and to care for it. He was to take care of the things around him, not because the Earth around him was more valuable to him, but because it was his place of responsibility. Adam was given Eden as a gift, and by that he was created to care for it.
Vs. 18
“It is not good for man to be alone” is the next way we see God remaining intimate in Man’s life. Our early patriarch of humanity was not left to fend for himself, God was looking at his needs with an eye to care for him. So God commits to finding the right “helper” for Adam (vs. 18b). Then, when all is said and done, Eve is created by God.
Vs. 21-22
Eve is our first woman, and created differently than Adam was. She was created for a specific purpose, not less than or greater than Adam, but different from. She was created out of the side of Adam, where she should remain. Again, not above or below, but out of the side.
Vs. 24
Among the many things created by God is marriage.
Closing thoughts:
We are not a thing that accidentally spun off from some other life form, nor are we a life form that God created and then has left alone to do as we please. We were created to be intimate with our Creator.
God's Intimacy:
So if in Genesis 1 we see God create all of the world and creation as we know it, including of course humanity, why does Genesis 2 tell it a different way? The answer is in the language. Genesis 2 is all about the intimate creation of Humanity. Genesis 1 is like looking down from an airplane and viewing Creation, while Genesis 2 is like looking in a mirror and viewing Creation.
Vs. 7
“the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”
Last chapter we learned that we are created in God’s image. The Imago Dei is one of the most highly discussed topics in man’s creation. We are made in God’s image. There is no higher image to be created in than God’s. However, before we begin to get to carried away with our creation of highest nobility, we are also told we are created from the dust of the ground. Somewhere between knowing we are created in God’s image, and understanding that we are formed from the dirt, is a right self-understanding, and a right self-image.
Next, we see that God “breathed” life into humanity’s nostrils. The language here is so intimate as God presses His lips to our very own face and breathes the “breath of life” into His favorite creation, humanity. The intimacy with which God created us is the intimacy in which we are to live in throughout our lives. God never would have created us so intimately if we were not supposed to remain in intimate relationship with Him.
Vs. 15
Man is given a vocation and a purpose. God placed our early father Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and to care for it. He was to take care of the things around him, not because the Earth around him was more valuable to him, but because it was his place of responsibility. Adam was given Eden as a gift, and by that he was created to care for it.
Vs. 18
“It is not good for man to be alone” is the next way we see God remaining intimate in Man’s life. Our early patriarch of humanity was not left to fend for himself, God was looking at his needs with an eye to care for him. So God commits to finding the right “helper” for Adam (vs. 18b). Then, when all is said and done, Eve is created by God.
Vs. 21-22
Eve is our first woman, and created differently than Adam was. She was created for a specific purpose, not less than or greater than Adam, but different from. She was created out of the side of Adam, where she should remain. Again, not above or below, but out of the side.
Vs. 24
Among the many things created by God is marriage.
Closing thoughts:
We are not a thing that accidentally spun off from some other life form, nor are we a life form that God created and then has left alone to do as we please. We were created to be intimate with our Creator.
