Bible Study - Productive (1) - Good Work - Genesis 1:28; 2:8-9, 15-17 - March 2, 2014

Bible Study – Productive (1) – Good Work – March 2, 2014

This is lesson one in our new series entitled, “Productive: Finding Joy in What We Do.”

Our scripture is Genesis 1:28; 2:8-9, 15-17.

Work is a gift from GOD, not a curse. It is a gift but it is the thorns and thistles that trouble me as stated in Genesis 3:18.  

Let’s read - Genesis 3:17-19 (This was after Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD and sinned.)

17 And He said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”

When GOD formed man, one purpose was for him to tend and care for the garden that would sustain him and others in the garden. GOD made woman to be his helpmate and companion. When Adam saw Eve he was pleased and excited. After they disobeyed GOD and sin came into the world, Adam and Eve went from tending to tilling.

Mankind was not formed to be on an eternal vacation but to be active in caring for and sustaining what GOD had created for their use, pleasure and to have an eternal relationship with GOD.

GOD set the example for work. HE worked by speaking and then by becoming personally involved when HE planted the garden, caused it to grow and formed the first male and made the first female.

HE was organized when HE created the universe and the world. What HE did on day one was necessary to sustain what HE did on day two and so-forth. GOD worked six days and then HE rested. Mankind, in general, has followed GOD’S example of working six days and resting on the seventh day.

GOD made humans in HIS own image and the image of the Son and Holy Spirit. When we, as Christians, see and understand the attributes of GOD, we function better when we follow those same attributes in our lives.

As mentioned, GOD was organized. HE had HIS plan worked out ahead of creation. Remember the verse in Ephesians 1:4:

4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love.

GOD worked and then HE rested. GOD did not get tired but I believe HE was setting an example for humans to follow.

For the next six (6) weeks we will explore our new series entitled “Productive: Finding Joy in What We Do.”

Let’s read Genesis 1:24-27: (Background scripture – Introduction of mankind into the world.)

24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.

GOD formed male and female to rule over earth. Mankind was commissioned to be stewards of earth, its resources and accountable to GOD.

Notice that GOD spoke to create the physical materials into being, which HE used the ground to form living things including humans and animals. HE formed the male from the ground and breathed life into him and made the female from a body part of the male. HE became personally and intimately involved in their formation. That makes mankind very special and important to GOD.

GOD is all knowing and HE made mankind with the freedom to choose. In HIS foreknowledge, HE knew that Adam and Eve would sin and incur the sentence of eternal death. So why did GOD not just terminate HIS plan?

I believe HIS reason is revealed in Ephesians 1:4, in that every human to ever be conceived was in the mind of GOD, thus a real person. For GOD to terminate HIS plan for mankind would have condemned mankind without the opportunity for mankind to be redeemed. HIS foreknowledge gave mankind the opportunity for salvation from sure destruction. Terminating HIS plan before it was executed would have aborted mankind.

Are you pleased to live as a human? HIS focus was not based upon the short time humans live upon earth but upon their eternal existence. GOD did not make mankind for time but for eternity. HE knows eternal existence will be awesome for those who choose to be redeemed by the shed blood of HIS only Son, JESUS. That is why HE had a plan to redeem humankind from eternal death for all who would place their faith in CHRIST.

I think John 3:16-18 captures the heart and love of GOD toward mankind:

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

Just as Adam and Eve made a decision to disobey GOD and receive the sentence of eternal death, they and all of their offspring have the opportunity to make a decision to be redeemed from eternal death through faith in CHRIST and receive the free gift of eternal life. Those who are redeemed by the shed blood of CHRIST, through the miracle of rebirth, are born-again in their spirit. When they are born-again they become GOD’S children with all the rights and privileges as HIS Children. All who place their faith in CHRIST are restored to GOD’S original desire and intent for humans, which is eternity in perfect relationship with HIM.

Let’s read Genesis 2:8-9:

8 The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He placed the man He had formed. 9 The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Notice that GOD planted the garden, which was located in Eden. The Hebrew word for “garden” means “to defend, to put a shield around it to protect it” thus an area protected by a wall or a hedge. Eden means “delight or pleasure.” Although some direction of location was given, we do not know where Eden was located but the original Hebrew reveals that the Garden of Eden was a real place. GOD planted the garden and caused the garden to grow and produce edible products to sustain mankind and the life within which HE had formed and given life to. Notice in our next scripture that GOD placed man in the garden. Where was man before GOD placed him into the garden? He was in the care of GOD.

Let’s read Genesis 2:15:

15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.

Scripture does not reveal how GOD placed or put man into the Garden. It could have been a zap or GOD could have led or guided Adam to the garden. The important thing is that GOD placed him where HE wanted him to be. HE still does. Where we work, male or female, is important to GOD’S plan for our lives.

GOD ordained mankind to work and care for that which GOD had created. Notice in our next scripture that GOD put man in charge of the garden and made him responsible and accountable to HIM for the garden. This is why GOD had to send HIS only Son, JESUS, to redeem those who choose to be redeemed from the sentence of eternal death because of the original sin. The first Adam failed by sinning but the second Adam, JESUS, succeeded by remaining sinless 1 Corinthians 15:47-49:

47 The first man (Adam) was from the earth and made of dust; the second man (JESUS) is from heaven. 48 Like the man made of dust, so are those who are made of dust; like the heavenly man, so are those who are heavenly. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man.

Let’s read Genesis 2:16-17:

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

GOD put man in charge of the garden. HE made him responsible and accountable for the garden. GOD gave Adam one restriction and that was “not to eat from the tree of the knowledge good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

The tree of life was also in the garden but GOD did not place any restrictions regarding the tree of life.

Many have debated why GOD restricted man from eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I think one clue comes from GOD after Adam and Eve sinned “The Lord God said, “Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” In knowing good and evil, I think mankind would not need GOD and become a god unto themselves. Mankind would try to imitate GOD by establishing their own human standards which would be far different from GOD’S criteria. We must keep in mind the foreknowledge, omniscience and omnipresence of GOD over our limited knowledge, power, abilities and ability to be anywhere at any time. Living forever in this state would have resulted in mankind being in a terrible state from which it could never escape. Also, we must keep in mind that when death came to mankind it also came to all of nature. Nature (creation) is waiting to be redeemed when mankind if fully redeemed at the end. (Romans 8:19-22 - 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility —not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it —in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.)

At this point did Adam and Eve know what GOD meant by dying? Since they both ate the forbidden fruit and did not physically die at that instant, what was GOD talking about? The instant Adam took a bite of the forbidden fruit their eyes were opened and they realized that they were naked. Yes, they did die to the relationship they had with GOD. They immediately sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Any time we disobey GOD our first thoughts are usually to deny that we have done anything wrong.

Let’s consider the scripture leading up to the making of woman.

Let’s read Genesis 2:7: (GOD formed man)

7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.  

Let’s read Genesis 2:19-20, leading up to the making of woman:

19 So the Lord God formed out of the ground every wild animal and every bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found as his complement.

Let’s read Genesis 2:21-25: (The making of woman.)

21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. 22 Then the Lord God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man. 24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

GOD took a body part from the man and made the woman. I believe woman was made from a body part of the man for both man and woman to seek and long for each other. It could be like identical twins separated at birth always having a sense of something missing in their lives until they are united with their twin. I think this was GOD’S way of creating the desire for man and woman to come together as one, in unity and having a sense of harmony and completion through an intimate bonding relationship. This is why, as a couple, male and female, GOD considers them as one in the flesh. They are complete.

GOD took the body part from man’s side, not his feet or his head because woman was made to be man’s helpmate and to walk by his side. Woman was not made to be a doormat for man to walk upon or to rule over. She is co-equal with man. (But sin changed this - More on this later.) GOD gave a special calling to man to be responsible and accountable to HIM for the garden.

I think this is so neat. When man first saw Eve, in essence, he said, “WOW!!! This is what I have been waiting for. She is the one.” It was love at first sight.

Let’s read Genesis 1:28-31:

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” 29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

GOD blessed them as HE called them to ministry. No Christian should enter into ministry without GOD’S blessing. GOD would relate to Adam and Eve in a special way over HIS other creations and the things HE formed from the ground, such as animals. HE spoke to Adam and Eve. Could it be since GOD used the same materials, the ground, to make animals that humans have such a kindred spirit with them?  

GOD called Adam and Eve to be responsible for three areas related to being a male and female couple who could produce a family and two areas related to work to sustain them and their offspring:

-         Be fruitful, this is a term used to describe a vine that produces a useable product or a flower that blossoms. It is tied to the womb and offspring from the womb and encompasses procreating and filling the earth.  Their calling was to reproduce, which is tied to the next word.

-         multiply, which means to “become many.”

-         fill the earth, meant for Adam and Eve to fill the earth with many humans. The Hebrew word used carries the idea of more than increasing the number but it also includes taking the responsibility to bring to completion that which has been produced. They had the responsibility to help that which had been produced, humans, to become responsible members of society and contribute to society by being responsible functional members of society. There is more to producing a baby than having a baby. It takes two and it takes commitment to the babies care, training and becoming a part of society. It is a lifelong process and commitment.

-         subdue it (the earth). Creation needs tending or care to be useful to humans in the present and the future. During the period before Adam and Eve sinned, they tended earth with little trouble. However, after Adam and Eve sinned, nature was not only condemned but nature became more troublesome. Rather than cooperating with mankind, nature pushed back more harshly. As GOD told Adam, the ground was cursed and it produced thorns and thistles. Of course, we can think of weather and natural disasters in addition to thorns and thistles. Those outside the south may not be familiar with kudzu. In our area, kudzu is everywhere and takes over if not managed. Near us is a house that once had people living in it. When they moved out, no one moved back into the house. It has been interesting to watch the kudzu take the house over.   

-         Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth. GOD commissioned Adam and Eve, thus mankind, to rule over the animal kingdom like a king would rule his kingdom.

GOD’S desire and intent was for mankind to function as a family and to be stewards of earth.

Let’s read Genesis 3:16: (This is after Adam and Eve had sinned. The dynamics of their relationship changed.)

16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.

GOD’S intent was and still is for man and woman to be co-equals. Eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil changed the male and female relationship because their relationship with GOD was changed by disobedience “he will rule over you.”

When humans are in right relationship with GOD, through CHRIST, they are in right relationship with each other. Unity is restored with GOD and each other. But when they are out of relationship with GOD through CHRIST there is trouble.

Does that mean all is well with couples who are Christians? No, because the flesh wars against the Spirit. But having the right relationship with GOD through CHRIST gives a Christian couple a firmer foundation upon which to build their relationship as they build their relationship together with GOD. Blessings!!!