The Beginning: Genesis 2:4-25
“4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven. 5 Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6 But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.”—Genesis 2:4–8, NASB 95
“16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.[1]”—Genesis 2:16–25, NASB 95
Seeing our resident artisan Sarah Stock on stage, with her potter’s wheel, working on the clay with her hands, was a beautiful metaphor for our Father. What an amazing image to think about God as the master potter who forms and makes with His hands. This is an intimate act of creation. As we continue our study of Genesis, we rejoice to see God’s method of creation moving from speaking to making with His hands. What an amazing truth to be formed and made by the hands of God.
“16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.[1]”—Genesis 2:16–25, NASB 95
Seeing our resident artisan Sarah Stock on stage, with her potter’s wheel, working on the clay with her hands, was a beautiful metaphor for our Father. What an amazing image to think about God as the master potter who forms and makes with His hands. This is an intimate act of creation. As we continue our study of Genesis, we rejoice to see God’s method of creation moving from speaking to making with His hands. What an amazing truth to be formed and made by the hands of God.
Discussion Questions
1. What is your most prized creation? Russell shared a few of his (box he made for Terri and pinewood derby cars with his dad). What makes those things you made or crafted special? How is that similar to God crafting/forming man in Genesis 2?
2. Russell mentioned the following quote from Derek Kidner to help express the intimacy found in the creation of man in Genesis 2. Reread the quote and discuss the ideas of formed and breathed from Genesis 2:7
3. “Formed expresses the relation of craftsman to material, implications of both skill and sovereignty which man forgets at his peril; while breathed is warmly personal, with the face-to-face intimacy of a kiss and the significance that this was an act of giving as well as making; and self-giving at that. “
4. We often talk about God desiring both a relationship with us and fellowship with us. Relationship is being declared righteous by faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Fellowship is simply enjoying that relationship we now have with God through Christ and the benefits that come from it. Discuss the differences between those two ideas. When did you begin your relationship with God? What is your fellowship with God like?
5. It is an honor to partner with God in His work by cultivating, watching over, and having dominion. What are some practical ways you do those things? What are some areas you need to work on?
2. Russell mentioned the following quote from Derek Kidner to help express the intimacy found in the creation of man in Genesis 2. Reread the quote and discuss the ideas of formed and breathed from Genesis 2:7
3. “Formed expresses the relation of craftsman to material, implications of both skill and sovereignty which man forgets at his peril; while breathed is warmly personal, with the face-to-face intimacy of a kiss and the significance that this was an act of giving as well as making; and self-giving at that. “
4. We often talk about God desiring both a relationship with us and fellowship with us. Relationship is being declared righteous by faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Fellowship is simply enjoying that relationship we now have with God through Christ and the benefits that come from it. Discuss the differences between those two ideas. When did you begin your relationship with God? What is your fellowship with God like?
5. It is an honor to partner with God in His work by cultivating, watching over, and having dominion. What are some practical ways you do those things? What are some areas you need to work on?
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