#021 In this episode DrZ explores Genesis Chapter 2 and the account of Mankind | Naked and Not Ashamed. Chapter 2 of Genesis takes a closer look at the Creation of mankind, his work in the garden, a command and warning from God, the creation of woman from man, and their status in eternal bliss – Gen. 2:25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
DrZ opens this discussion with two passages that speak of eternity – the place where God dwells in fullness. God has set eternity into the human heart. That’s why we know in our hearts there is something beyond we are experiencing here. And could it have been through this portal into eternity that God breathed into us the breath of life and we became living beings.
Chapter 2 opens with God resting on the seventh day from all his work he had been doing – the seventh day did not have an evening or morning – His rest remains open. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
We next see that vegetation had not yet appeared on the dry ground and that there was no one to work the ground. After which God creates man from the dust of the earth and breaths the breath of life into him, and he became a living being. God then planted a garden in the east, Eden, and placed man in the garden to work it. Eden, I believe, was a dimensional reality beyond our own. And it was in Eden God planted in the center of the garden the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
While Adam was given the right to eat from any tree including the tree of life, he was commanded not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would die. God recognized it was not good for man to be alone so He decided to create a helper for him and paraded all the other living creatures before Adam, which Adam named, but none was found suitable. So God created woman from man; such that the two when joined become one flesh. In total innocence and bliss of existence, while man and woman were naked, they felt no shame.
From this point forward thru Revelation 20 is the account of God redeeming mankind to reenter this eternal state of innocence and bliss forfeited by Adam when he ate the forbidden fruit. And while work is what we were created in God’s image and likeness to do, you may be surprised by the work God requires. And we’ll look at that work at the end of our next Episode #022.
In regard to the top five philosophical questions we’re answering in the Genesis Creation narrative. Where did everything come from? (Origin) God is the creator of everything we see.
Why are we here? (Purpose) Mankind was blessed by God to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and given dominion over the earth to rule and reign – We’re about to see in Chapter 3, that Adam lost our dominion but the blessing and purpose remains; although delayed in fullness.
What does it mean to be human? (Identity) Mankind was created in the image and likeness of God
How should we live? And where do we go when we die? Are answered in Genesis 3.
As with Chapter 1, we’ve merely scratched the surface of the surface of what can be discussed. I encourage you to start your own study of this Chapter and discover for yourself the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ you’ll encounter.
Grace and Peace to you...
DrZ
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