In the very first words of Scripture, Moses documents the origin of all created things so that people from every generation would understand the beginnings of the world in which they lived. Moses identifies the eternal God as the Creator (1:1) who caused all things to exist through spoken word (1:1-31). Although Moses never argues for God’s existence, he simply assumes that those reading would believe in the one, true God who created the heavens and the earth in six literal days. Genesis 1 concludes with God creating man (His most prized creation) in His image which meant that man had a unique relationship with God (1:26-27). Man was entrusted with overseeing God’s creation as well as populating the earth through having children with his wife, Eve (1:26-28).
God completed all of His creation in six literal days (2:1) and on the seventh day He rested from all the work He had done (2:2). His rest was not a result of exhaustion, but rather to set a pattern for man’s work cycle. Man would work six days, but set aside the seventh day for rest (2:3). This day of rest became known as the Sabbath and would later be constituted as a day of worship (Exodus 20:8-11). Beginning in Genesis 2:4, Moses fills in the details of creation especially concerning the events of day 6 when man was created. Under inspiration of the Holy Spirit he writes, “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person” (2:7). God formed man’s body from the dirt, but what gave him value and worth was the breath of life which made him a living being or a living soul. This made man a spiritual being capable of having a meaningful relationship with God. After God created Adam, He placed him into the garden of Eden and surrounded him with beauty and pleasantry (2:8-9a). Even though there were probably numerous trees in the garden, Moses mentions two of them. The first tree is called the tree of life and eating its fruit would miraculously sustain life (2:9b). See Revelation 22:2, 14 for a comparable tree which will be located in the new heavens and earth. Also found in the garden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:9c). Anyone who would eat of this tree would experience death as punishment (2:16-17). Death carries the idea of being separated from God in fellowship and also implies a delayed, but assured physical death. No reason is given for prohibiting man from eating this tree, so it is best understood that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was placed in the garden as a test of man’s obedience. The keys to life and death were set before Adam and Eve. Obeying God would bring life and blessing. Disobedience would result in death and eternal separation from God. Thousands of years later, not much has changed. Obedience still brings reward. Disobedience still brings retribution.
Dear God, open my eyes to the reward of obedience and the dangers of disobedience.
