January 2nd, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

The Creator at Work

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Opening Prayer

Loving Lord, this year may no obscuring clouds of doubt or fear turn me aside from the life of faith.

Read Genesis 2:4-25

[4] This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. [5] Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, [6] but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. [7] Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. [8] Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. [9] The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. [10] A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. [11] The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. [12] (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) [13] The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. [14] The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. [15] The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. [16] And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; [17] but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” [18] The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” [19] Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. [20] So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. [21] So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. [22] Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. [23] The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” [24] That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. [25] Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Immortal, invisible, God only wise … To all, life thou givest, to both great and small, / In all life thou livest, the true life of all” (Walter Smith, 1824-1908).

Think Further

While ch. 1 “organizes all elements of the created order under one principle–the command of God” (J.E. Hartley, Genesis), attention now turns to humans on the earth. Unlike chapter 1’s regal actions (“said,” “create,” “bless”) God is here both directly and relationally involved. Read today’s passage again and reflect on the diverse verbs with God as subject (continuing in ch. 3). Narrative powerfully portrays the Lord’s “transcendence” and “immanence”–nouns become active verbs!

The narrating illumines the hymn-like language of 1:26-30. God “formed the man” (adam) from the “ground” (adamah)–the human from the soil. We are unmistakably “earthy”! Life is God’s gift, his “breath of life” (7), shared with animals (“living creature” is also used in v. 19). Humans, however, have a unique role within a relationship with God. In the midst of Eden, God has his garden. He shares his enjoyment and in speaking to “the man” gives responsibility (8 ,9,15,16). The Hebrew word used for “work” (15) is the same as that for “serve,” reinforced by “take care,” so complementing “subdue and rule” (1:28). The freedom to “name” the animals (19,20) foreshadows the scientific, but human rule is servant leadership and stewardship, a perspective relevant to contemporary environmental debate.

That task is shared. The “male and female” of 1:27 is expanded evocatively as God provides a “helper” (20). “Help” elsewhere in the Old Testament is generally God’s action, although occasionally military “aid” (Deut. 33:7; Psa.121:1; Isa. 30:5). Partnership is joyful when male and female together fulfill God’s good provision, enjoying the relationship of counterparts and sharing the task given by the God who actively relates to them (23,24).

Apply

What does it mean for you that male and female together share in the freedom and task God has given?

Closing prayer

Lord God, I embrace Your wisdom and know it will guide me so that I have healthy relationships with others.

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