A. Overall Lesson Objective

B. Learning Competencies

C. Lesson

The Bible account of creation is really one account from two perspectives. Genesis 1 has God, the Master Chef, creating all things. It is a day-by-day record of the process until it is complete and includes a day of rest at the end. The account in Genesis 2, by contrast, is centered around the creation of man. It is as if God invites us to sit in part of His created world, where the first created man will reside. [Research note: there is no contradiction between these chapters: Genesis contradictions.]

Why does He take the time to do this? Why does God want us to see man’s first habitat so closely? We are made in His image, and He cares about what is made in His image. We know that from the first account. Is this close-in picture necessary? This view gives us the only record of how things were prior to decisions and actions by the first man and woman that changed things forever. To grasp how much the world has changed, we need to see what it was like beforehand. This account makes man especially central to God’s creation work, which is a far cry from an accidental and undirected process of evolution, where man is a trivial accident.

You have already seen that words, phrases, and specific language play an important part of this study. People usually read too fast. With the advent of rapid-fire media that soak the senses, reading carefully and thinking about what is read are unpopular. The same trends are apparent in both modern rich societies and developing regions. Keep this in mind as you proceed. The study is mostly about reading carefully and interpreting the words with their plain meaning. The biblical words are not men’s words, although men wrote them down. The biblical view attributes the words to God. Remember, He was there. He made it happen. There is such a tendency to quickly put the biblical view of creation in the category of an elaborate myth, which is how it is often portrayed. Is that true? Read the words of the Bible carefully. Take your time. By the time we get to Units III and IV, the care taken in these earlier lessons will become obvious, because the difference with other world views becomes understandable to the average person (old or young). That is precisely what is intended. If the biblical version of events is truly authored by God, which the author of this curriculum believes, then others will be prepared to consider the effects of this biblical creation world view by how we see the world and universe around us as compared to a naturalistic world view.

Read Genesis 2:4-25. Make a brief outline by providing a title or key thought for each paragraph. (Most translations note paragraphs by indenting the first word, but some may use an extra space or a symbol to indicate paragraphs.) Then proceed to the notes below. If your translation does not have the indentations, use these sections of scriptures for the exercise: Genesis 2:4-7, 8-9, 10-14, 15-17, 18-25

Verses 4-7. Verse 4 makes it clear that the creation account is about the same heaven and earth addressed in Genesis 1:1. Verses 5-7 provide God’s description of this creation that is necessary for the ‘garden’ account. It is different from the approach God uses in Genesis 1 because God begins here by noting there is no one to work the ground, which He defines in terms of a lack that needs a solution. This brings God to address the subject of man’s creation. It is a more personal and close view compared to Genesis 1. God’s personal touch is involved as indicated by the word “formed”. Note that the creation effort, like the creation activity in Genesis 1, does not take place over lots of time. There is no experimentation or long process; He forms man then immediately adds another part to give life to the man by breathing into His nostrils. The words set a personal tone from God. He intended, from the beginning, to have fellowship with man, the crown of His creation.

Verses 8-9. God provides a picture of the Garden of Eden, which He personally planted. Eden is depicted with trees that are beautiful and good for food. A watering process is mentioned at this point that does not come from rain. However, He also points to a central place in the garden with two special trees. One is the tree of life, which is not mentioned again until 3:22-24. The second is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that is mentioned in 2:17 and other verses that follow.

Verses 10-14 depict the surroundings in the garden region, which are characterized by beautiful rivers and special substances of the earth. Remember: this is God reporting on a creation He has already assessed as very good, so there are hints of beauty and unique features where man will be placed. The surroundings were not accidental, but purposefully placed and specifically mentioned for our benefit.

Verses 15-17 go back to God’s report of His action to place man in the garden to work it and care for it. God gives man His first command and restriction: eat of any tree other than the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The latter will cause death. Since this is God’s statement, it is sure.

🦕 CT? What is the tree of life? We know it was special (verse 2:9) and if they ate of it they would have obtained or tasted of something exceptional (see verse 3:22). Is there any restriction given to Adam for the tree of life? Consider that Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). John 1:4 explains that Jesus embodies life. So, discuss the possible characteristics or nature of the tree of life in Eden. To confirm or refine answers, consider Genesis 3:22 and 24.

🦕 CT? If God says the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is forbidden because the fruit of this tree would cause death if Adam ate it, then how was Adam supposed to come to an understanding of good and evil, or was it necessary?

The tree of life in Eden, at the very least, is a powerful presence of Life—not an ordinary tree. Likewise, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not an ordinary tree, containing just what it says. Consider: this story is not a myth, and God does not lie nor deceive, so the descriptions are fully intended to report the real situation in the Garden of Eden.

Now, consider the rich young ruler’s statements about ‘good’ in Matthew 19:16-17. The ruler has his own idea about what is good, but it comes from a source other than God. Jesus says He has the wrong understanding of good. Where did the ruler get the understanding of good and evil that Jesus questioned if it did not come from God?

🦕 CT? Consider this: if we are like Adam, descended from him, and could be transported back to the Garden to hear the instructions God gave at first, how was Adam to understand what was good and evil if it was not supposed to come from eating fruit of the forbidden tree?

The description of all trees, including the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis 2:9), means all the trees were attractive. Nevertheless, God forbids Adam to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There are things that seem attractive to us today, and we might question why God might forbid them in the Bible, but we can be certain, because He is the perfect overseer (lessons 5 and 6), that His guidance is accurate. The penalty for eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil seems extreme, but it is the only tree with any restriction! We will examine some of the ramifications from eating of the forbidden fruit as we progress through the lessons.

D. Assignment

Read Genesis 2:18-25. Summarize what happens in two sentences in your own words.

E. Learning Activity

The class will be divided into teams. Each team should read Genesis 1:15 and form a set of tasks that you believe God intended for man to do to fulfill this verse. Remember: at this point in the creation, there is no death, no disease, and a land freshly created. According to God, everything is “very good”. Keep this in mind as you formulate the tasks. Compare the tasks among the teams. (10 minutes)

F. Concluding Assessment

The Master Chef reports on the creation from a personal and on-the-ground view of the habitat especially made for man (Eden)