Episode 231 - "Death for Disobedience" - Genesis 2:10-17

Gen. 2:10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

Gen. 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

I believe that there’s a good reason for every word that is in the Scriptures. However, it is hard to discern the purpose for some of the details. Genesis 2:10-14 is an example of this. For example, why are these details concerning the location of Eden and its garden important when it would have been long gone by the time this book was written? Why would people need to know where it was and about the valuable resources that had been there?

Here are some thoughts. First of all, what we do recognize and know are the current locations of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. They are both in modern-day Iraq. We know that Cush later in the Bible is identified as modern-day Ethiopia. However, there is disagreement over whether it’s referring to a river running through Ethiopia. There is a common agreement that no one knows where Havilah is. The point is we don’t really know where Eden was located. Furthermore, wherever it was, surely there were significant changes in the courses of these rivers after the flood, which we’ll read about soon, and rivers often change their course over time. But don’t miss the point that there is specific detail to where it was. This suggests that the author is not making up a mythical place with no basis of geography and reality. The detail suggests that it was a real place.

Another potential purpose for the detail is to describe a lush and luxurious place that might indicate a place of God’s presence. The prophets later speak of the Promised Land becoming like Eden. (Ezekiel 36:35, Joel 2:3, Isaiah 51:3, Zechariah 14:8, Revelation 22:1-2) See also Haggai 2:7-8 and Revelation 21:18. Admittedly, I am pushing the text a bit more than what is given in the immediate context. But I don’t think it’s wrong to point out that what this setting in Eden looked like at the beginning of time when God created it and how it parallels the New Jerusalem we read about at the end of time. This is an important observation as we begin to read Genesis because it begins a long story about God and his perfect creation, the conflict that arises and brings chaos into the world, and the long road to resolution when God brings his followers back to a garden of Eden like setting to live for eternity. The Bible is a grand story of God and we don’t want to quickly gloss over this information as though it is irrelevant.

At the very least, this description of Eden paints a beautiful scene in which God’s story will quickly unfold. It describes his creativity and goodness. The rivers help sustain life for plants, animals, and humanity, and this scene describes an abundance of God’s provision.

In both Genesis 2:8 and Genesis 2:15, the author says that God “put” the man in the garden. But the verb that is translated as “put” in each of the verses is different than the other. John Sailhamer, in The Bible Expository Commentary, Genesis, points out that the verb in verse 15 is used elsewhere in the Scriptures to indicate “God’s ‘rest’ or ‘safety,’ which he gives to man in the land (e.g., Gen 19:16; Deut 3:20; 12:10; 25:19), and the ‘dedication’ of something in the presence of the Lord (Exod 16:33-34; Lev 16:23; Num 17:4; Deut 26:4, 10.” If this is the intent of the verb used in verse 15, it would lend support to the description of Eden in verses 10-14 as a place of God’s presence. The idea is that in giving man responsibility, it was not a labor of toil but purpose and fellowship with God.

Verses 16-17 contain some of the most important words uttered in the history of the world. God commanded the man to eat freely of every tree in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you recall, this tree and the tree of life were said to be in the center of the garden. So, the man could eat as much from the tree of life as he wanted. It would seem that doing so would sustain his life. But eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would result in certain death.

When our sons were young, they sometimes asked, “Why did God put that tree of the knowledge of good and evil there for people to eat if he didn’t want them eating it?” That’s a good question and the answer is not in the text. My speculation is that it was a test to see if people would listen to their Creator or do whatever they wanted to do. It clearly wasn’t a trap. God made it clear what was expected and what would happen if he disobeyed. Furthermore, God encouraged him to eat the variety of good things he had provided in the garden. It’s not like the man had no options. Lastly, being made in the image of God indicates to me that man needed to exercise his will on what he would and wouldn’t do. God exercised his will to make the earth and life and to make it very good for us. Enjoying the abundance of God’s provision and trusting the One who made it all sounds like a good choice to make.

This is a valuable lesson for us. Do we believe that God is good? Do we believe that God wants what is best for us and that he wants us to trust him? When some of Jesus’ followers abandoned him, Peter expressed that Jesus had the words of eternal life. Like Peter, we may not always understand what God is doing. But we need to trust that he alone gave us life and can give us eternal life.

Episode 230 - "God formed . . . and breathed into . . ." - Genesis 2:4-9

Gen. 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Gen. 2:5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Verse 4 sounds a little strange, doesn’t it? What do generations have to do with the heavens and the earth? The Hebrew word that is translated “generations,” can be transliterated as “toledot.” It’s often used at the beginning of genealogies. But the idea is what comes forth out of something else. Therefore, it makes sense to use that expression for genealogies. But Dr. John H. Walton, in the NIV Life Application Commentary volume for Genesis, suggests that the reason this expression is used here is a form of irony intended to be a critique, even an attack, on the views of other ancient cultures about the beginning of the universe. He argues that other ancient Near Eastern cultures believed that gods brought forth other gods. (See reference below) But what is revealed in Genesis is that the LORD brought forth the heavens and the earth, and through it, He brought everything good for life. Therefore, Genesis 2:4 is not only an introduction to the detailed account of the creation of humanity but, to the Hebrews coming out of Egypt and their descendants who would enter the Promised Land, it could be highlighting how their God, the LORD, is bigger and better than the gods of other cultures around them. Throughout the Bible, the writers want us to know the self-revelation of God. Understanding who we worship is essential to our life and walk of faith.

In verse 5, a few details are given to support the argument that the LORD is acting in a manner that reveals his good intent for humanity. The bushes and plants had not yet sprung up from the ground. Then we read, “the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land.” It tells us that God is in control of everything necessary for life. If nothing else, this is antithetical to a Deist worldview, one that believes that god is nothing but some initial cause to the universe with no intervention to sustain life in any way. This detail also raises the question, “When did the LORD cause the rain to fall?” We’ll get to that later. But verse 6 explains that “a mist” (or possibly springs) came up from the ground and watered the whole ground.

One more detail in verse 5 poses another problem; “there was no man to work the ground.” (v. 5) This creation was not an accident or even started by a god with no intent, willingness, or ability to orchestrate that which was to come forth to support life and be a place where mankind could exercise their God-design authority and privilege to rule over the earth as God’s vice-regents.

Verse 7 introduces God’s plan and solution for the previously stated “problems.” “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Gen 2:7). The picture here is that humanity was a “hands on” project for God. It pictures both intent and a sense of connectedness between the Creator and the man.

The goodness and blessing that is revealed from the Creator God to the man is then heightened even more in Genesis 2:8, which states that God made a garden with a variety of plant food and put the man in the garden. It’s as if God is saying to the man, “I want you to have the best of what I have made for you.” These plants created a beautiful scenery in which he would dwell and also enjoy the experience of eating them. Verse 9 concludes with two trees mentioned by name. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Given that this is the first time “evil” is mentioned in the Scriptures, it would appear the intent is to provide an ominous tip that trouble is coming.

So, what is our “take-away” from this text? What can those of us in the 21st century glean from this text? I would suggest that we understand that the God we worship is not some force or power with no concern or ability to interact in our lives today. The God we worship values mankind and wants what is absolutely best for them. This gives us hope and a reason to worship the LORD.

John Walton, Genesis, Accordance electronic, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001).

Episode 229 - "God cease from all his work on the seventh day" - Genesis 2:1-3

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Before we dive into the text, let’s briefly discuss the context for a moment. The Scriptures and tradition hold that Moses wrote the first five books of what we as Christians, call the Old Testament. These are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. As we’ve just read, it begins with a description of the creation of the universe. Deuteronomy will end at the end of Moses’ life with Joshua ready to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after being oppressed in Egypt for 400 years.

Among other things, Moses is giving the Israelites an account of who their God, Yahweh, is and how he created the universe and life on the earth. Ancient accounts from Egyptians and other ancient cultures on how their god(s) created things are preserved in some measure today. Many scholars believe that Genesis is writing to the Israelites to say, “You have one God, Yahweh, and here’s how he created the world.” That is helpful for us to know as we read and think about the creation account in Genesis and what it says about God. It’s also helpful to understand that this original audience who had received a covenant promise by God in Exodus and again in Deuteronomy would need to understand why the sign of the covenant promise was for them to remember and honor the seventh day (Sabbath) of the week. It all returns to the original “seventh day” in Genesis 2:1-3.

On the sixth day, God saw all that he had made, and it was “very good.” Genesis 2:1 emphasizes the completion of God’s creative work. Personally, I find it comforting that God completes what he starts. It reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s introductory encouragement in his letter to the church at Philippi, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philip. 1:6). Paul clearly believes that God will accomplish in our lives what he begins. He won’t leave us undone or scrap us.

Besides completing what he started, the English Standard Version (ESV) says that God “rested on the seventh day from all his work he had done” (Gen 2:2) The word “rested” is actually better translated as “ceased.” God wasn’t tired. He didn’t need a nap. The emphasis is that he “ceased” creating on the seventh day. When the Israelites got in trouble for violating the Sabbath day against God’s express command, they didn’t get in trouble for not napping. They got in trouble for not ceasing their regular activities of providing for themselves. They were to trust the LORD to provide for their needs. But they didn’t. (See Exod. 16:4-30) They were trusting in their own efforts. This reality has significance for us, doesn’t it?

Finally, Moses wrote, “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy” (Gen 2:3) What this means is that God wasn’t just giving the Israelites a day off from work. He made it holy or set apart for a holy purpose. God set apart the seventh day for it to be a day when people cease from the self-absorbed routine work and focus on God.

One question that occasionally arises among Christians sensitive to doing what is good and pleasing is, “Do we as Christians have to observe the Sabbath?” There are some traditions that believe they do have to observe the Sabbath along with other requirements of the Mosaic Law. However, most mainline Christian church denominations understand that the Law, which could never be perfectly obeyed by people, was truly fulfilled in Jesus Christ. (Rom 8:1-8 for one example). Therefore, we who are trusting in the one who could and did completely obey the Law are “in Christ” and not under the Law of “Sin and Death.” (The Mosaic Law) Some Christians argue that the first day of the week is the Christian’s Sabbath. I’m not sure I buy into this latter argument. However, I think we could all agree that the idea of ceasing from our own efforts to focus on the LORD and worship him is a good and necessary discipline.

Perhaps this week, we can cease from our busyness and give praise to God that he has made all things good and that he provides for our needs. We can prayerfully reflect upon how he is completing the work of transforming us into the image of Christ.

Episode 228 - "Behold! It was very good!" - Genesis 1:27-31

Gen. 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Gen. 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

In our last episode, we reached the climax of this story of creation. Among all the living things that God created, humanity is most like God. The structure of the narrative supports this assessment. But the rest of the chapter explains what it means to be made in God’s image.

First of all, “male and female he created them” (v. 27) qualifies that both genders reflect the image of God. I take this to mean there is equality of the genders. That is not to say that the genders are the same. We’ll see evidence in a future episode that suggests differences between the genders.

In verse 28, “God blessed them” . . . and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it . . .” (v. 28a) As God wanted the living things in the seas and the birds of the air to multiply and fill their respective domains, mankind is also blessed by God and instructed to multiply and fill the earth. People have observed that the command to multiply has been the command of God most commonly obeyed. This will not be the last time we will hear (read) this command. Why does God want people to multiply and fill the earth? I think it’s so that they can be stewards of what God has made throughout the world. In other words, God has made humanity to be caretakers of this earth and all that it within it. (v. 28b)

Verses 29-30 reveal that God made plants to be the source of food for both humans and beasts. Aside from the diet that God had designed for animals and people, we see something significant. God is communicating his will to humanity. Once again, this God of the Bible is not an impersonal force but a cognizant being that made himself and his will known. God does not leave things to chance.

This section concludes with, “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (v. 31) For each creative day, God assessed what he accomplished and saw that it was good. But when he assessed the whole creation, it was “very good.”

The God that made us created it all to be very good for us. The beginning of the grand story through the Bible tells us so much about this God. It’s important for us to think about these things. God communicates his will to mankind. God wants what is good for us. What God does reflects who God is. Let us take these things to heart as we continue through this story.

Episode 227 - "And then God said, 'Let us make man in our image'" - Genesis 1:24-26

Gen. 1:24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Gen. 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

As mentioned in the previous episode, the description for each day of creation is longer with more detail than the preceding days. The effect is to build the suspense for the climax.

Verse 24 begins the sixth day, and the description is long enough that I’m going to split my discussion into two episodes. First, have you noticed the repetition of “according to their kinds?” We first encountered this on day three of creation, when God created all plant life. The expression is also used for birds, sea creatures, and now land animals. What is the point? The point is that, according to Genesis, God designed species of plant and animal life. God is not to be brought down to some creative force that was simply an initial cause of life. God is an intentional creator with a creative imagination for the variety and complexity of the various living things that were made. Do I believe God could have made his living creatures able to adapt to changes and challenges for survival? Absolutely! That’s part of the creative design.

So the beginning of the sixth day was the creation of land animals and once again, “God saw that it was good.” (Gen 1:25) But God wasn’t finished.

Verse 26 begins with, “Then God said.” (Gen 1:26) So far, the story of each day has begun with “And God said.” This simple change in wording indicates that what follows is the climax and grand finale of what God will create. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’” is the whole verse. Out of everything God has created, the sun, moon, stars, sky, seas, and dry land, the pinnacle of his creation is humanity.

Consider verse 26 carefully. First, we notice that humanity most resembles God. This does not mean that God is actually some bearded old man in outer space as one might surmise from Michelangelo’s painting titled The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. People debate the exact nature in which humanity resembles God. But look at the context, and I think we’ll get a better idea.

God expresses that these creatures made in his likeness will have dominion over living creatures in the sky, waters, and dry land. God is putting them (us) in charge to take care of these other living things. God, as the Creator, has the authority over all creation and demonstrates that authority by naming it as he wishes. But when he creates humanity, he says, “Let them have dominion.”

There’s is a lot more said about the creation of humans that we’ll look at next week. But for now, ask yourself how that makes you feel that God has entrusted you to take care of other creatures. What does that say about God’s value for you?

Episode 225 - "God said, 'Let there be light!' - Genesis 1:3-5

Gen. 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Before I begin engaging the text of this first day of Creation, I’d like to make a few things clear. First, the Bible is not a science book. Secondly, the scope of science is limited to the natural world. Science can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God because God is supernatural. My goal is not to attack or begin to address scientific arguments about the beginning of life. I believe there is a Creator God, and I believe the Creator God described within the Bible is God. What follows then is a somewhat limited interaction with the story of Creation and the beginning of the story of God, which, I hold, extends throughout the Scriptures within the Bible. Not only do secular scientists mostly disagree with Creationists and Intelligent Design advocates, but even Christian scholars have different views about how one interprets these early chapters of Genesis. My desire is simply to share with you observations about what is happening in this story and its significance.

We left off last week with the earth formless, void, and dark. Who would want to live on that earth? It’s the crisis in the story that we want and expect to be resolved. Furthermore, we read that the Spirit of God was “hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gen 1:2). That statement creates an excitement or expectation that something is about to happen.

In verse 3, something happens. What? God spoke. God said, “Let there be light.” What follows God’s command is what appears to be an immediate fulfillment of that command. Light came into existence. With nothing but expressed will, God created light. What’s the point? God is powerful. Furthermore, God has a mind and is not just a force in the universe. God can and does express His will and has the power to cause whatever He wills.

In verse 4, God does two more things. First, God “saw that the light was good” (v. 4a). We can draw a few things from this statement. One is that the light was complete- it was just the way God wanted it. God didn’t need to practice making light. This statement begs the question, “Good for what?” Did God need to create light? Was God incomplete before He created light? I don’t think so. I think this suggests that God saw or made sure that light was good for the earth and for the living things that He would put on the earth. In other words, this should give us a sense that God wants good things for His creatures and has the power to make it happen perfectly. I find that encouraging.

In verse 4, God also judges what is good and what isn’t good. God separated the light from the darkness. The author has told us that God saw that the light was good. Yet God separates the light from the darkness. Why? It’s God’s judgment that darkness is not good. We are not given any more details concerning that. But as we read through the Scriptures, we find that light and darkness are often used symbolically for good and evil or knowledge and ignorance. At the end of the Scriptures, the eternal scene of God’s realm is continuous light.

Finally, in verse 5, God names the light “day” and the darkness “night.” Thus, the first day of Creation is complete. The importance of this verse is God’s authority over light and darkness. At the end of God’s creative work, He will give humans the authority to name the animals.

So, what is the story revealing to us? God is powerful, thoughtful, and good and has the authority to determine what is good and what is not good. The story informs us about God’s character, doesn’t it? These truths about God’s character are essential for the people we will read about in the Bible and important in our walk of faith.

If an aspect of God in this text stands out to you, give God thanks for that, and pray that God impresses these truths upon your heart.

Episode 224 - "In the beginning, God . . . " Genesis 1:1-2

Gen. 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Here we are at the beginning of a new book. Until now, I’ve only covered books in the New Testament. I thought it was time we looked at a book in the Old Testament or, as my Jewish friend would say, the Hebrew Scriptures. There are different reasons why I consider Genesis to be a good book for us to study. The first reason is that I’m more familiar with it than many other books in the Hebrew Scriptures. Secondly, Genesis is the beginning of a grand story with a crisis and plot that is not fully resolved until the end of the Bible. Yes. You read that correctly. There are many stories in Genesis as well as other Scriptures. But all of them are in some way or another connected within a greater story that extends through the entire canon of the Bible. If we don’t know Genesis, it’s difficult to understand much of the Bible as a whole. Jesus and the New Testament authors often cite, speak of, or allude to Genesis and the early books in the Testament. Their theology is significantly informed by what happens in Genesis. Finally, it’s just a wonderful book to read. Let’s take a quick look at the first few verses.

The Bible begins with three simple words, “In the beginning.” (Gen. 1:1a) Those words help establish our context of time. If there is any ambiguity in the reader’s mind as to the beginning of what, that ambiguity is dissolved with the words that follow, “God created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1b) This is talking about the beginning of time as we know it. The time when the universe was created. But let’s not jump ahead too fast. What is vital that we learn from this already? The answer is that God was already there in the beginning. The implication is that God is eternal since there is no suggestion that God had a beginning. I was teaching this passage once to families with young children. I asked why it was so important that God did not have a beginning. A girl, probably around 10 or 11 years of age, promptly raised her hand and replied, “It means that God will not have an end.” If we believe the God of the Bible is good and powerful, it is encouraging to believe that He will always be there.

The term “heavens and the earth” is a literary device called a merism. In our American culture, we might say “from A to Z.” That is a merism. For the purpose of our text, the author of Genesis, (The Bible and tradition hold that Moses is the author of the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.) is opening the story by saying God existed at the beginning of time and everything else that exists was made by God.

In good story form, the author now gives us a problem. “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” (Gen. 1:2a) As much as I’ve enjoyed humankind’s adventures into space, going to the moon and sending rockets and robots to Mars, I cannot quite understand the obsession with going to Mars or even creating an outpost on the Moon. These objects are formless and void. There is no life. Even those who’ve gone into outer space speak of the awe they had when they could look back at the Earth with all its life. So, God created the earth. But there was a problem. It did not have life of any form, and it was dark. The dark condition is not just a condition that might make us fearful or otherwise not want to be in the darkness. But it also means there was no hope for life in the absence of light.

We are already on the edge of our seats, wondering, “What’s going to happen to change this?” The tension is fueled by the statement that follows, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Gen. 1:2b) In the Hebrew language, the word that we translate as “hovering over” is the term used for a mother bird brooding over its nest, ready to bring forth life. In other words, “the Spirit of God” is about to change the void and darkness that is upon the earth.

In just two short verses, we have the making of an exciting story. We have an eternal God who is the primary character in this story, and this God is about to do something amazing! What is it? Tune in next week, and we’ll find out.

Until then, reflect upon God being eternal, powerful, and creative. How can that be valuable to you this week?