The beginning of Men and Women

The Beginnings of Men and Women
Genesis 2:4-25

sermon by Paul George Retired Pastor

Church of the Nazarene

“And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

God did not rest for the same reason we do, because we become tired and weary, He rested as one well-pleased with the work He has accomplished what He has set out to do.
The creatures of the heavens and the earth are the hosts or armies of them, they are numerous, orderly, disciplined, and under control. They know their place and keep. They are used by God in the defense of His people and the destruction of His enemies. God has overruled nature in the performance of miracles but He has never changed nor repealed the law of nature or added to the elements of nature.
Genesis 2:4-25 is the third point in Moses’ account of the creation of the world. The first point is, “The Beginning of Creation,” (1:1-2), the second point, “The days of creation” (1:3-2:3), the third point, “The Beginning of Man and Woman” (2:4-25). Verse 4 is the introduction of the third point.
In point one and two of the account Moses uses the name “Elohim.” In the third point he uses the name “Jehovah Elohim” translated, “Lord God” in the English text of the account of the creation of the world. The plants referred to in verse 5 are the plants that need cultivation
We need to pay close attention to what is written in verses seven to seventeen. God formed man from the dust of the ground, planted a garden toward the east of Eden, some where in Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq. There is a river flowing out of Eden into the garden God placed man. Want to know where the Garden of Eden was located? The river that flowed into the garden was divided into four rivers. Where were they divided, in the Garden of Eden? This garden has an important role in the course of history. The land where God planted has an important role in the course of history and is playing an important role in the events happening in this 21st century. In verses 11, 12, 13, and 14 the names of these rivers are given, they are the Pishon, the Gihon, the Tigris, and Euphrates.
Around what two rivers are the major events taking place today? There is a reason why these events are taking place around these two rivers. The rivers are the Tigris and Euphrates. Also, only one major world power is mentioned, Assyria. Moving on.
In verse 15 we are told what the man is to do in the Garden of Eden.
In verses 16 and 17 the man is told he is permitted to eat the fruit from any tree in the garden, this included the fruit from the tree of life. He was not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he ate the forbidden fruit he would die. In the garden Adam was told he was to do four things, cultivate the garden, keep it, he is to keep it in the same condition it was in when he was placed in the garden. There is a very good reason for this as we will see later. Eat the fruit that grew on the trees, except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and name the animals and birds, God will bring to him.
Was this asking too much? Is there any reason why Adam could not do these four things? Before we point a finger at Adam, remember we are pointing three fingers at ourselves.
Question, where was Eve when all this was happening? Was she standing behind Adam watching what was happening, listening to what God was telling Adam?
Verse 18, “Then the Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper.” If Eve was standing behind Adam when God told Adam he could freely eat the fruit from all the trees in the garden except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, who is this helper God is going to make for Adam? It was not one of the beasts of the field or birds of the sky. We are told God brought the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky to name them and whatever Adam named them that was their name. But for Adam there was not found a suitable helper.
There was a good reason why God brought the beast of the field and the birds of the sky to Adam to be named. The naming of something was evidence of lordship.
When there was suitable helper found what did God do, verses 21 and 22? He caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and performed the first operation performed on this earth. God opened the side of Adam, took out a rib, closed the incision and used it to make a helper for Adam, a woman. Then God was the first to give a bride to a groom and perform a marriage ceremony. Verse 24 emphasizes the complete identity of the two personalities in marriage and that it is to be monogamous and heterosexual. The bond of marriage is to be a lasting one. Death is the only just reason for the breaking of the bound and not because the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.
What is revealed to us in the account of the creation of the world is according to the will of God. His plan for the course of history, life in the world He created. That world has been changed and is changing. The change was not God’s doing but man’s. God does not change. He is the same today as He was before the creation of the world, in the days of the creation of the world. He will be the same tomorrow.
We are living in a revolution unheard of in this nation. It is a rebellion against God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. There is a darkness sweeping over this nation and the world that is going to bring total destruction. Soon and very soon the One the Ancient of Days gave an everlasting kingdom to, one that will never be destroyed or given to another will come and take His place upon that throne that was given to Him.
For the present the only reason why He has not come is because God doesn’t want to see anyone perish. His love is reaching out to everyone. But there will come a time when He will no longer extend His love and the side of God that is being denied today will be revealed. We need to be ready for that day.
The Holy Spirit is reaching out to those who are lost in the darkness of this present world. He will not force anyone to take His hand. The choice is left to the ones He is reaching out to, calling to come to the Savior before it is too late.