Bible Study - Promises (1) - GOD'S Promise of Fruitfulness - Genesis 1, 2, and 3 - June 2, 2024

 

Promises (1) – GOD’S Promise of Fruitfulness – Genesis 1:26-30; 2:16-17 and 3:16-19 – June 2, 2024

GOD called humanity to rule over HIS creation.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning GOD.” This is ground zero and to me it is impressive and powerful. GOD created earth for a special purpose and placed it exactly in HIS universe to sustain all life that earth needed to meet the needs of its inhabitants – plants, animals, humankind. It had to be self-sustaining.

GOD’S original design for humans was for us to have eternal life upon earth. Adam and Eve blew it for us humans. As the result of sin, GOD had to send JESUS, THE SECOND ADAM, TO FULFILL HIS ETERNAL PLAN FOR ALL WHO WILL ACCEPT JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR!!! GOD’S redemptive plan for both mankind and nature.

GOD intended for Adam and Eve to live eternally. GOD placed Adam in charge of the Garden and what went on in the Garden. Keep this in mind but first let’s explore GOD’S creation of earth and its inhabitants.

It is clear what GOD created each day was a building block for what HE created the next day. Let’s begin with Genesis 1: 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.^[a]

² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ 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.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

Keep in mind that Moses wrote these words as GOD revealed HIS handiwork to him. In verse 2 - “The Spirit of GOD hovering” over “the earth” which “was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths.” Hovering is so vital and magnificent.

When NASA launches a spacecraft, they have computers, sensors, and all sorts of technology monitoring what they will launch with the right fuel. They also have planned objectives. The word Hovering carries the idea that GOD was checking all aspects of HIS plan for life upon earth before HE spoke, thus hovering or checking everything out before HE spoke. GOD is careful and plans according to HIS desired outcome. After hovering, HE concluded that all was in place and ready for HIS next command.

GOD then said. “Let there be light.” That would be our sun. But notice there is a pause. What happens if you focus a heat source on one spot of a muddy blob? It dries out. If the surface is not rotating, then one portion of the surface will dry out. Then GOD separated the light from darkness, thus rotation of earth began i.e., night and day thus the distribution of the drying effect of the heat from the sun. First one side dried, then rotation – night and day.

Rotation of a ball of earth material would first give an unbalance to the ball which triggers the next step. There are centrifugal and centripetal forces. Centrifugal force cast things outward and centripetal force holds things inward. The combination would distribute the watery substance and earth material to achieve rotation balance.

Sometime, take a flat world map, put it on the wall, and notice how the land masses seem to have been one land mass and then separated. Keep in mind that today we know that continents float.

Let’s read verses 6 and 7:

⁶ Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” ⁷ So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. ⁸ God called the expanse “sky.”^[b] Evening came and then morning: the second day.

⁹ Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. ¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so. ¹² The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ Evening came and then morning: the third day.

GOD prepared earth to produce food and sustain life, as we know it, for HIS next creation.

¹⁴ Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons^[c] and for days and years. ¹⁵ They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. ¹⁷ God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, ¹⁸ to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.

²⁰ Then God said, “Let the water swarm with^[d] living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” ²¹ So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.

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 all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

We know that there were large animals, trees, and prolific vegetation which, over the years, became fossil fuel. GOD plans ahead. Thank YOU, LORD, for planning for us in advance.

Keep in mind that earth time and GOD’S time are different. The seeds had to develop into plants and plants had to mature and produce fruit. When conditions were right, GOD made man and later woman.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[e] in^[f] our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl^[g] 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.

 

We are now filling in from Genesis 2 to get the sequence of events from Genesis 2, then back to Genesis 3.

We read in Genesis 2: 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.

 

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.

Continuing in Genesis 2:15: The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 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.”

Adam was enjoying life in an idyllic place, but GOD observed that something was missing.

¹⁸ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” ¹⁹ 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^[k] no helper was found corresponding to him. ²¹ So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs (Body part) 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: (In essence “WOW!!!” This is what I have been waiting for!!! Adam had been naming all the animals and now he had someone who looked like him.)

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.

Now back to Genesis 1: 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 will be food 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^[h] every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

So, why did GOD create earth? For humans to willingly love HIM, GOD fashioned, Adam, and Eve. HE did not make them robots but free thinkers with the freedom to choose. Did GOD know how they would choose? YES! That is why HE already had a redemptive plan. HIS redemptive plan would involve HIS only SON, JESUS, (Second Adam) coming to earth to live a 100% human life to be tempted in all ways as humans are tempted, yet without sin.

When did GOD consider humans, who would be formed in the womb? The Apostle Paul, as you may recall, wrote in Ephesians 1: ³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For HE chose us in HIM, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons/daughters through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

GOD’S grace through faith in JESUS trumps the Law. The Law does not flex, whereas, Grace shows compassion to those who place their faith in JESUS, HIS Passion and the Crown Jewel, which is the Resurrection of JESUS on the third day from physical death. GOD conquered death via the resurrection of JESUS for all who place their faith in JESUS.

Ephesians 1:⁷ In him (JESUS) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

GOD’S timing is always perfect!

Ephesians 1:11 In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. ¹³ In him (JESUS) you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

GOD chose all to be HIS Children but do all choose HIM? Every person has the freedom to choose. Choose wisely my fellow travelers, choose wisely! Let’s return to “In the beginning.” After GOD made earth and it could sustain life, it was time to make man.

Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. Genesis is Book One.

Let’s read Genesis 1:26-30:

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[e] in^[f] our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl^[g] on the earth.”

Who is us? The Trinity --- GOD, The FATHER, GOD, THE SON and GOD, The HOLY SPIRIT.

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

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 will be food 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^[h] every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was incredibly good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

Earth is approved by GOD to sustain life and function according to HIS plan and purpose. GOD created earth and it reflects HIM and HIS love.

GOD created earth to be the final habitat for the human race but HE, in HIS wisdom had a backup plan. HE created a special place which is described in 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived — God has prepared these things for those who love him.

This is yet to come for all who place their faith in JESUS because we, as Spirit-born humans, have to die physically to get there.

So, what happened to boot humans from living eternally upon earth? Sin! How did sin come about?

Let’s read Genesis 2:16-17:

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

Warning and the consequence if he disobeyed – death. Adam was clearly placed in charge of what went on in the Garden.

Eve took the first bite. Adam was watching and did not say, “STOP!” GOD placed Adam in authority over the garden.

 

Satan enters the dynamics of earth to test GOD’S fashioned humans and GOD allowed him to enter.

Let’s read Gensis 3:3 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. ³ But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

When we add things to GOD’S commands, trouble is ahead for us.

⁴ “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “In fact, God knows that when^[a] you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

All of us are subject to being deceived by Satan’s cunning antics. If you think you cannot fall to his deceits, then my friend you are most vulnerable.

I know!

⁶ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So, she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so, they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

 

When we disobey GOD, we try to cover it up.

 

Let’s read Genesis 3:16-19:

¹⁶ He (GOD) said to the woman:

I will intensify your labor pains;
you will bear children with painful effort.
Your desire will be for your husband,
yet he will rule over you.

 

Have you considered child production before sin and after? Keep in mind, Eve is the mother of all races. I have a theory but so far cannot confirm my thoughts. Consider childbirth before, no or less pain and after sin, pain. The main point is all humans, including JESUS, are the result of conception and nine-months later physical birth.

¹⁷ And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife 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^[e]
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^[f] 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.”

²⁰ The man named his wife Eve^{[g - Life]} because she was the mother of all the living.

One source for all humans. All people/races have the same origin. We are the world and as such GOD gave us responsibilities to care for earth and all that is in it. Unity is what GOD desires. Our DNA makes us humans, yet diverse. DNA can be considered GOD’S Divine code.

The Apostle Paul used the example of the human body to express unity in GOD’S Kingdom upon earth, yet diversity. The human body consists of many parts, and all are necessary for the body to function as designed.

As such, the church is a body of believers, diverse, yet designed to function and conduct GOD’S commands and desires in unity. As such, when we accept JESUS as our Savior, GOD equips us with one or more Spiritual Gifts to be used to minister to the body and to those who will come into the body.

Sin came into the world through the choice of our human parents, Adam, and Eve. The first Adam sinned therefore, GOD had to send a second Adam, JESUS, to pay in full the sin debt and give hope and eternal life to all who place their faith in JESUS.

GOD could have left us to always be under the law, which is harsh and lacks love but because of HIS love, HE sent HIS Only SON, JESUS, to give HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for all sin. Every person’s part is to accept the fact that JESUS paid the sin debt in full by HIS shed blood for every person. But there is a vital step every person must take. It is a free gift, which cost JESUS HIS physical life. But as with any gift, you and I have to accept it. GOD offers everyone this gift of eternal life which is guaranteed and confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Do you accept JESUS as your Savior or reject HIM? The choice is always yours to make! Choose wisely my friends. Blessings!!!