In His ImageНамуна

Day 9: It Started in the Garden

Discover: Genesis 1 gives us a summarized, zoomed out perspective of creation. At this point in Chapter 2, we do not see another instance of humanity’s creation, we but get a more detailed look at how it takes place. We see that Adam is formed from dust and put in the garden to maintain it. From there we get a more detailed description of the Garden’s geography, which serves as the setting for the next several chapters in Genesis. It wraps up by foreshadowing the coming significance of the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Learn: Although Moses is the author of Genesis, He clearly was not there to witness Creation or the Garden of Eden. The Holy Spirit revealed these details to Moses as he wrote the precise parts of history that would accomplish God’s purpose. Verse 4 is the first time “The Lord God” or “Yahweh” is used to describe God. Moses uses a more personal name for God to highlight the creation of those made in His image.

Apply: Up to this point, we have not learned anything about creation outside of the Garden, but we do know that God visits Eden to walk alongside those in it. Clearly, Yahweh has a special interest in this garden, as He places the first humans there to care for it. As much as God loves everything He makes, we are different because we are made in God’s image. As a result of this, we have dominion over creation and a relationship with the Creator. How does our design differ from the rest of creation? What does our unique design imply about God’s love for us?