Creation’s Appendix
16 February 2014 AM – Genesis 2:1-25 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs
Introduction: The authors of many books place additional information in the back of the book in sections called the appendix. This information gives more details to what they wrote within the book. In a sense, Genesis chapter two is an appendix to the creation events recorded in chapter one. This chapter introduces us to several important facts that God did not include in the first chapter.
Transition: As we look at Creation’s Appendix, we will find several principles that directly apply to our lives.
I. God Established Rest After Work
A. The first three verses complete creation week
1. These three verses fit at the end of chapter one.
2. They announce the conclusion of God’s creation and the seventh day of the week.
B. God planned for rest to follow work
1. The word “rest” either means “to cease” or “to rest”
2. God did not rest because He was tired. He rested because creation was finished.
3. God set a example for man to follow by resting after six days of work.
4. Here in Genesis, God did not call this day of rest the Sabbath. God gave the Sabbath requirement to the Jewish people centuries later when He gave Moses the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:10-11, 31:17).
II. God Detailed Highlights of His Creation
The phrase “these are the generations” (v.4) seems to identify a new source for Moses’ book. This phrase is used about 10 times in the book. Each time the source appears to change. Perhaps God revealed chapter one to Moses and from this point in chapter two the Holy Spirit directed him to recorded Adam’s account.
A. God watered the world with a mist, Gen 2:5-6
1. Perhaps because of the vapour canopy over the whole earth, it did not rain.
2. Instead of rain, God caused a mist to water the earth.
B. God made man from dust, Gen 2:7
1. God used the same elements found in the dust of the ground to create man.
Scientists tell us that, The human body is made up almost entirely of 13 elements. Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen make up 96% of our body’s mass. The other 4% of body weight is composed almost entirely of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, and iodine. Answers in Genesis, From Dust to Dust
2. God then breathed into man the breath of life. Animals have life like humans, but God did not create them in His image as He did man.
C. God prepared a garden for Adam’s home, Gen 2:8-9
1. God planted a special garden paradise just for Adam, and then He put Adam in that garden.
2. God planted many plants in the garden of Eden.
a) He planted trees that were beautiful to look at. This was for Adam’s enjoyment.
b) He planted trees that were good for food. This was for Adam’s nourishment.
c) He planted a tree of life in the middle of the garden to prevented ageing (Genesis 3:22).
d) He also planted a tree of the knowledge of good and evil to test man’s obedience. (More in Ge 2:16-17)
3. A river sprang out of Eden to help water the garden. Evidently the river flowed from an underground spring. It was so abundant that it divided into four other rivers as it left Eden.
D. God created work, Gen 2:15
1. Work is not part of the curse on sin.
2. Work is necessary for man’s good.
a) Adam was to dress the garden. This word simply means “to work or serve”. This may include hand-watering some of the plants or fertilizing them. It could include picking the fruit of the plants.
b) Adam was to keep the garden. This word means “to guard”. All the creatures that God created were vegetarians. Perhaps Adam’s job was to guard the plants of his garden so the animals would not eat them.
3. Work is good for us. Children need to learn to work while they are very young. A child that is not trained to keep his room clean, pick up his toys, and do daily household tasks will grow up to be both lazy and selfish, expecting others to serve him.
4. The Lord clearly condemns the refusal to work.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
5. Even in eternity, Christians will serve God (Re 22:3)
E. God made the first law, Gen 2:16-17
1. God commanded that Adam could eat of every tree of the garden except one.
a) Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he must not eat.
b) If he should eat of that tree, in that day he would die spiritually (explained in ch 3).
2. People often wonder why God made such a tree and allowed temptation to occur. Here is the reason.
a) God created people so He could loving them, and so they could love Him in retur. Love, by its very nature, must be voluntary. People must be able to choose, of their own will, to love their Maker. “If Adam was free to love God on his own initiative, he was obviously free also not to love God.” Henry Morris, The Genesis Record, p.91
b) God created man with a free will to choose to love and obey.
(1) Man was able NOT to sin.
(2) But because he sinned, man is now not NOT able not to sin.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
F. God created Eve from Adam’s side, Gen 2:18-22
1. God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone. Adam needed a spouse for companionship and to be his help meet (i.e., helper, completer). This is the first mention of anything being “not good.”
2. As Adam named all the birds and beasts, he saw that each had a mate, but he found no mate for himself.
3. God put Adam to sleep and took from his side to create a woman. The word “rib” is often translated “side”. God made Eve’s body out of Adam’s flesh and bone (Gen 2:23). She too was made in God’s image. They were truly one flesh. Eve was not inferior to Adam. She was his completer. They were an intimate, harmonious team.
G. God created marriage, Gen 2:24
1. The word “therefore” marks God’s purpose and method of creating Eve to complete Adam as the basis for God’s marriage covenant.
2. God’s marriage covenant consists of three parts, 1) leaving father and mother to marry, 2) vowing to cleave permanently, 3) God making them one flesh. This does not require a church wedding.
Adam and Eve were not one flesh because of a sexual union but because of a divine act. It appears then that God makes a couple one flesh. God declares them to have as much of a one-flesh relationship as did Adam and Eve.
3. God’s marriage covenant made no provision for divorce. It was a life-long, permanent covenant.
Matthew 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
4. Marriage is God’s only license for physical intimacy. All physical intimacy outside marriage is sin.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Conclusion: From this chapter we learn the value of weekly rest, the need to work, the reason for man’s free will, the need for a spouse, and God’s marriage covenant. During the sermon, if God has revealed a need in your life, now is the time to deal with it. If you are not yet saved, that is your greatest need.
Song: Cleanse Me – 166