Genesis 2

Genesis Chapter 2

On the seventh day God rested from all of his labors. Genesis says that he sanctified the day and made it something special. It was a foreshadowing of the rest to come in Heaven for those that are 'sanctified' by his Son. In Exodus the twentieth chapter and the eighth through the eleventh verses we have the commandment for seventh day, the day of rest. If we go even further though, into the second chapter of Mark we find that the Sabbath was made for man, and not the man for Sabbath. We find that God it good, gracious and merciful to his creation from the beginning.

In the following verses we find that God made the earth and everything in it for man and woman and their use. He made the plants, animals, rivers, lakes, all of it for the use of man. I'm sure God did not intend for man to abuse the earth or the animals and vegetation in it, but I don't believe God intended for man to sin either. I believe God knew man would sin, but I believe it was his love that gave man the choice to serve him or not.

God also not only made the earth for man, but made a specific place for him to rest and enjoy himself. He made a place for man to dwell with his wife. We notice that there is some labor for man in the 15th verse. God wanted Adam to 'dress' the garden. Man was not made to be idle, and idleness does not bring happiness. We will never know how the human body was before sin, but I don't think it was meant to be idle, stagnant and immobile even before the fall of man. Relaxing from work only feels good after you have actually worked, otherwise what are you relaxing from?

The second chapter goes into some detail about where and what exactly is found in Eden. Surely God  left no detail out when preparing this place for man. It had rivers, plenty of food, and even precious stones and gold. Here though, we come to the test of man and his character? Who is God to test man and want to see his obedience? He is God, and he is man's creator; who is man to question God's ways and plans? God put trees bearing fruit in the garden and told them they could enjoy all of them but one. Imagine, you're in paradise and your livelihood, happiness and ultimately your life depends on staying away from one thing. It's not hard, until man starts to put himself before God.

So God sees this great thing he has created, and looks over it all, but feels that man needs company. God was ever looking to help his creation along and give him everything he needed. God is good. He causes Adam to sleep and he creates Eve from the ribs of Adam. It seems like a decent price to pay for companionship until you think of the price Christ paid for our redemption.