Made In His Image (Part I) Genesis 2:4-9

Genesis 2:4-9 (NASB):

 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven. ⁵ Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. ⁶ But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. ⁷ Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. ⁸ The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. ⁹ Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

      Have you ever had someone tell you, "You look just like your mom," or "You are the spitting image of your dad"? Resembling one's birth parents in appearance is one thing. Even more important, however, is the matter of reflecting the image and likeness of our Heavenly Father. Last week, we learned that God created human beings-both male and female-in His image (Genesis 1:27). We can never reflect the image of God to the same degree as Jesus Christ, who is God the Son. Moreover, our sinful nature has marred the likeness of God in us. Only through salvation available in Christ can God's image in us be restored. 

     This week, we will explore a wonderful and perhaps familiar Bible text with deep application for our lives. The account of creation, having been narrated in methodical, precise terms in Genesis 1:1-2:3, is expanded in warm, personal terms in Genesis 2:4-25, particularly as it describes the creation and early activities of the first man and woman. As we investigate this passage, lets' remember that this narrative is not merely ancient history. It is our story. Even more, it is God's story of making us in His image. 

     Many Bible readers have taken note of not only the different type of presentation in Genesis 2:4-25, but also of the introduction of an expanded name for God. In Genesis 1:1-2:3, the Hebrew term Elohim stands alone behind every occurrence of the word God. In 2:4-25, however, the name the Lord God is used consistently. This name reflects the joining of God's personal name (Hebrew, Yahweh) to the term Elohim.

     Moses recorded in Exodus 3 the encounter with God in which he learned the significance of the name Yahweh. Essentially, the name is a form of the Hebrew verb to be, meaning "I am" (Exodus 3:13-15). In Exodus 6:2-9, Moses further recorded that Yahweh was the personal name by which God would be known in His covenant relationship with Israel. It is rendered occasionally in some English Bibles as Jehovah but more often appears as it does in Genesis 2:4-25-the Lord. 

     Why did Moses use the name Elohim in Genesis 1:1-2:3 and then switch to the compound name in 2:4-25? One possible explanation is that he used the majestic term Elohim (God) in relation to the cosmic perspective of creation, and then he moved to Yahweh Elohim (the Lord God) as he described God's personal, "hands-on" creation of the man and woman. In other words, the God of Scripture is at one and the same time the Sovereign Creator who stands infinitely above and beyond His creation and the  Heavenly Father who personally fashions and relates to human beings. 

     Gods' relationship with Adam and Eve included His giving them a place to live, provision for food, a person to whom each could relate, and a purpose for their lives. In this relationship, God also expected Adam and Eve to love and honor Him alone as Deity. They could demonstrate their devotion to God by obeying His commands. Christ later expressed the same expectation of His followers: "If you love Me, you will keep My commands" (John 14:15).

     God's relationship with the first man and woman involved simple but direct instructions to avoid eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Obey and live; disobey and die. While Genesis 3 will describe what happened later in this regard, chapter 2 outlines the conditions of God's relationship with His people. 

Apply the Scripture: 
Take an inventory of the things God has provided for you. Use the inventory list as a prayer guide, thanking God for what He has done.

What prohibition is God using to test your obedience to Him? Examine your attitude toward that prohibition and determine what your attitude reveals about your view of God. Identify the steps you need to take in order to obey God with joy.