zooming in Genesis 2:4-25
Genesis 1 Genesis 2 Genesis 12 Creation Eden/ Humankind Abraham/ Line of Promise Genesis 1 Genesis 2 Genesis 12
Zooming in, we see that we are connected: To God To the Creation To each other Gen. 1= “God” Gen. 2= “the LORD God”
Sculptor Inspired Forms Breathes life Intimate Skillful “Breathed into” Living Dust We are dust Given the breath of life
The world is a joint effort Verse 5: “No plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for… The LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth And there was no one to till the ground. God brings rain We till the ground
Gardener Cultivators Cultivate Care for Plants Places Purposes Beautiful Life-sustaining Places Purposes Cultivators Cultivate Care for
Do you dislike work? Work was God’s idea, so it is good! Are you… Cultivating: bringing life to others? Caring: contributing to society? Sharing: working with God?
Instructor Entrusted Teaches Responsible Entrusted with Enjoy Limits Creation Wisdom Responding in relationship to Creator
Why would God give us a choice? Real love, real relationship, real fulfillment demand free-will. Cultivate/Care for creation Option to Destroy/Neglect creation Listen/Relate to God Option to Ignore/Abandon God
Matchmaker and Dependent Genesis 2 shows our dependence on… …God (life-giving breath) …Creation (food) …other people (“it is not good for a man to be alone”) “Helper”: filling void, completion, necessity
The Whole Picture Functional Relational Gen. 1 God creates Created in God’s Image: to rule Thinking functionally Relational Gen. 2 God relates Created in God’s Image: to relate Thinking relationally
Gospel Moment God of Deism God of Christianity “Watchmaker” Uninvolved Wants “good people” God of Christianity Creator, King Artist, Life-Breather, Gardener, Instructor, Matchmaker Involved (Christmas, Table, Cross, Return) Wants loving relationship that flows into good work