Adam: 3 Days Rediscovering Our BeginningIhe Atụ

THE BIBLE BEGINS by telling us that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God made the sun, the moon, and the stars. Then He made the plants, fish, birds, and animals. But God’s masterpiece was still to come.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26)

The Hebrew word translated “man” here is adam. That’s where the first man got his name. Adam was made in the image of God, and what was true of him is true of you. You are made in the image of God. An image is a reflection. God made you in such a way that you reflect something of His nature and glory. That means your life has unique dignity and worth.

God made Adam by forming a corpse from the dust of the ground. Then He breathed into it, and Adam became a living being (Genesis 2:7). From this we learn first that our minds and bodies are fragile, and second, that our lives are a gift from God, and that we are always dependent on Him.

God filled Adam’s life with wonderful gifts. He planted a garden and gave it to Adam as his home (Genesis 2:8). He gave Adam the fulfilling work of naming the animals and participated in Adam’s work by bringing the animals to him (Genesis 2:19). But God saw that it was not good for Adam to be alone. He created Eve and then “brought her to the man,” and she became his wife (Genesis 2:22).

Home, work, and marriage are good gifts from God. Home is where God sets you down. No home is perfect, but the best place to flourish is the place God has prepared for you.

Work is what God gives you to do. God’s work brings order out of chaos; He creates what is beautiful; He protects and provides for all that He has made. And when you do these things in your work, you reflect the work of God.

Marriage is God’s gift of union with another person. The first marriage had its share of troubles, but whatever their problems, Adam and Eve could never have doubted that they had been joined together by God.

But the greatest gift of God to Adam and Eve was the gift of His friendship. God is invisible, but He appeared in the garden in a visible form because He wanted Adam and Eve to know Him (Genesis 3:8). These appearances show the intense desire in the heart of God that we should know Him, not only as our Creator, but also as our friend.

At the heart of the Bible story, God became a man in Jesus Christ. So it should not seem strange that in the Old Testament we find God making these appearances in visible form. It is almost as if the Son of God could not wait to come.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

• What is your first reaction to hearing that we are made in the image of God?
• What do you think you would like most about living in the garden of Eden?
• Why did you choose that? Does it surprise you to hear that God wants us to know Him?