Post 6 Generations of Creation Genesis 2

Generation: production
Production: the act or processing of producing
Rest: freedom from work or activity - a state of motionlessness or inactivity
(according to Webster's Dictionary) Note: when looking up a word, sometimes a deeper meaning can be obtained by looking up words in the definition i.e. generation: production)

Why do you reckon God 'rested' on the seveneth day? Was he tired?

Rest in this usage means he was finished with the creation and stopped creating stuff. No. He wasn't tired. He is God and does not get tired as we do. In my mind I try to visualize the completion of creation and it must have been so beautiful. I would have stopped for at least a day just to look. I've stood on a mountain and looked out over the mountains and hills down below. I could see, perhaps a river over there. A bird swoops across my view. A squirrel fusses somewhere. My lovely wife smiles beside me. It is all so beautiful. Imagine standing upon the heights of heaven and seeing the unspoiled whole creation. It IS very good.

Outline
1-The first Sabbath
4-Manner of the creation
8-Planting of the garden of Eden
10-the river thereof
17-tree of knowledge only forbidden
19,20-naming of creatures
21-making of woman and constitution of marriage
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Genesis 2:8 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.
Special note: All through the Bible God reveals more about himself through his name. In chapter 1 he uses the name God. In chapter 2 he says Lord God. Then on over, he says Lord. He reveals that he is supreme and made all things but also that he is deeply involved with his creation as Lord. God, the ruler of the universe. Lord the master and caring friend of man. It is very touching to see His names revealed throughout the Bible. Finally, He reaches the point where he sits on a hillside as a brother and friend but still Lord and more as he talks with his disciples.

Man was made from the dust of the ground. God planted a garden and placed the man there. The man named the animals and was no doubt very busy for some time. God noticed that the man needed a 'help'. Although he had all the animals, there was no real compainship for Adam. So, the woman was formed.

We live in a time when relationships are very casual. The bonding of real love between husband and wife goes beyond physical attraction and proximity. Real love encompasses the bonding of the two spirits so much so that when one hurts the other feels pain. As a society, we have moved far away from that kind of love. Moral decay is always the cause of the fall of great civilizations.

One river came in to water the garden of Eden and four rivers flowed out. We are most familiar with the Euphrates. That must have also made a nice transportation system for earlier mankind. It must have been a nice place to call home. I would think they were at liberty to roam outside the garden but there was work to do in tending the garden. Since this was before the curse of the land, probably tending the garden was not all that difficult. It would be good to have a home and something to do. It is our nature to want a place to belong and a purpose in life.

We are not given a time frame for how long Adam and Eve were there in this blissful state. it had to be a fabulous time for the perfect man and perfect woman in a perfect place. All this and the Lord himself came to visit them. That must have been some good times walking through the garden with Him.

So man is made and placed in the garden with something to do, a purpose, and rules to live by. A day of rest has been established with God himself setting the example. Guidelines are set down. Tend the garden, eat from all the trees that bear fruit except the one.

God did not create robots to look after a garden, He created man in His own image. He planted a garden for man's benefit. He set down a couple of rules for man to go by and gave man the free will to obey or not to obey. We have seen that He was God in chapter one. Lord in chapter two. Adam had to know that man was the creation made by God. Adam even knew that the woman was made from his own rib. So, the line of rightful authority was established and well understood. There was a tree of life in the garden as well. We will find out later that the two humans could have 'lived forever'. We will go to chapter 3 next time. For now we can ponder the beauty of the garden with Adam and Eve clothed in the glory of God. They must have moved through the garden with such grace and strength with no disease, age or pain to slow their steps. Maybe Adam came back with a bunch of grapes thrown over his shoulder. Have you ever had a day when all seemed to be perfect? You were with your favorite person, the weather was great, you just finished your favorite meal, all the bills were paid, a good friend stopped by just to talk, no one was sick, death never entered your mind and there was absolutely no guilt for anything you had ever done. That's not even close to how it must have been in the Garden of Eden. I wonder how big the fruit got on those trees back in those days of bliss.