Post by The Ambassador on Aug 25, 2019 13:03:18 GMT
CHAPTER TWO, PART TWO
GOD RECREATES THE EARTH
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PART ONE. IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
God named the first man Adam and placed him in the beautiful Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8). He then instructed Adam to tend the garden and keep it lush and green (verse 15). God also brought before the man every animal that moved on the earth or flew in the sky so that Adam would name them (verses 19-20).
As the animals came to Adam, he noticed that each kind was male and female. Seeing this, Adam began to feel lonely. He was the only human being on the face of the earth. But the Creator did not intend for Adam to live alone. He said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper” (verse 18). God knew that without a helper or companion, Adam was physically incomplete. So God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He then took one of his ribs and created a woman from it (Genesis 2:18-22).
Later, Adam called her “Eve,” which means “life,” “living” or “lifegiver,” because she would become the mother of every man, woman and child who has ever lived (3:20). Then, God performed the first wedding—Adam and Eve became husband and wife (Genesis 2:22-24). God intended for married couples to work together as a team and to walk in complete agreement, the way God and the Word agree. God made the man to be the head of his wife and family. And God made the wife to be head of the children and
to manage the household. The Creator intended that the man look to his wife as a helper and for advice. The woman was made to look to her husband for leadership, guidance and authority. Together, as they produce children and build families, husbands and wives physically complete each other.
Peace in the Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve did not need to fear the animals that roamed the earth. Unlike today, animals back then did not eat meat, nor did they attack and hurt each other. They all lived together in peace. Lions, bears and other large animals walked freely without attacking others. One day soon, man and animals will live in peace and harmony again. This will happen when God sets up His kingdom on the earth. At that time, all will live according to His ways (Isaiah 11:6-9).
God instructed Adam and Eve to have a family and fill the earth with children. He also gave them the responsibility of ruling and taking care of the animals, water creatures, birds and plants (Genesis 1:28-30). Adam’s job was to till the ground and spread the supreme beauty and lushness of the Garden of Eden around the world until it filled the whole earth (2:4-6).
God Creates the Sabbath
God recreated the earth, and then created plants, animals and humans, in six days. On the seventh day, the Creator decided to rest from His work (Genesis 2:2-3). God was not tired. The Eternal is always filled with energy (Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 121:4). He rested on the seventh day of the week in order to set an example for us (Genesis 2:1-3).
God gave the first six days of the week for people to work and create things—just as God worked and recreated the earth. But the seventh day is special. It is holy—set apart for a special purpose. God called that day His Sabbath (Exodus 16:26). It is a day of rest, a holy time set apart from all work so that people can have more time to seek and worship God. The first six days of the week belong to man. But the seventh day—the Sabbath—belongs to God (Exodus 20:8-11). Once God established the Sabbath day, the Creation Week was finished.
Note: Some say that in modern times, we do not need to observe the seventh day as holy because it was part of the old Mosaic Law Covenant. But, as you can clearly see, God established the Sabbath as "holy" thousands of years before Moses was born and at the very beginning of mankind.
CHAPTER THREE
IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
God recreated the earth in six days. He then rested from His work on the seventh day—the Sabbath. Adam and Eve were placed in the garden paradise of Eden. Their job was to populate the earth andtend and keep the garden until the entire planet was like Eden. Meanwhile, as he watched events unfold, Satan the devil schemed for a way to stop God’s Plan. Human Spirit Not Enough Physically, Adam was created perfect. With Eve as his wife, the married couple was physically complete.
And yet they were spiritually incomplete. Though God created man with creative mind-power, Adam still lacked something. His human spirit was limited to physical knowledge. Adam’s mind could learn
only from his five senses—sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell. But God is Spirit, and His laws are spiritual. Spirit cannot be seen.
The five senses cannot know or understand spirit or spiritual things. It would be like trying to describe colors to a person born blind. To know God and keep His spiritual laws, Adam needed something extra in his mind: the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Combined with the creative power of the human spirit, the Holy Spirit would enable Adam to develop a close, father-son relationship with God. It would also lead Adam to obey and understand God’s laws, which define right from wrong, good from evil. When you obey them, good things happen: blessings, protection, happiness, guidance, answered prayers and more. But when you break God’s laws, bad things happen: suffering, pain, misery and even death! God’s spiritual laws define the right way to live. Based on love and outgoing concern for others, they show you how to love God and how to love and get along with other people
(Matthew 22:34-40).
Adam could never discover these spiritual laws on his own. His five senses could not reveal them. God had to reveal them. Adam needed the power of God’s Spirit in his mind to lead his thoughts and desires, and to help him learn how to live.
The Two Trees
In the Garden of Eden, there were two very important trees: the Tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Each tree represented an opposite way of life. The Tree of Life represented God’s way of love and outgoing concern for others. If Adam had eaten fruit from that tree, he would have received God’s Holy Spirit. And, if he used it to build godly character, God would some day change Adam from a physical human being to a spirit being. Then Adam would live forever in the God Family.
But there was a second tree—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It represented Satan’s way of life—the way of selfishness, greed and hate. Eating its fruit would lead to vast suffering and pain, and eventually death!
The Big Lie
After creating Adam, God warned him, “You may eat of every tree in the garden. But do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For in the day that you eat its fruit, you will surely die!” (Genesis 2:16-17).
The devil saw this as his chance to do evil. Disguising himself as a serpent, he approached Eve and said, “Has God really said that you can’t eat of every tree in the garden?” Satan wanted Eve to doubt
God’s warning. He tried to get her to focus on the one tree she was forbidden to eat of, instead of appreciating all the other trees that were freely available to her (Genesis 3:1).
Eve replied, “We are allowed to eat fruit of any tree in the Garden. But we are not allowed to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or even touch it. If we do, we will die” (verses 2-3).
In a calm, soothing voice, the devil said, “You will not die. You have an immortal soul. You can never die!” (verse 4). This was one of the biggest lies ever told—that people have immortal souls and cannot die. Even today, millions of people believe this lie.
Yet the Bible teaches that God created people to have temporary, phys- ical lives. As with animals, all people eventually die (Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Romans 6:23). The devil continued to spread more of his lies. Satan said, “Besides, God knows that if you eat that tree’s fruit, your eyes will be opened. You’ll get special understanding. You will become so wise that you will be just like God. Then you won’t need Him to tell you right from wrong, or good from bad, anymore. You will know everything you
need to know to make your own decisions!” (Genesis 3:5).
As Eve listened to Satan’s cunning string of lies, Adam stood silent. As her husband and leader, he should have led her away from the serpent and his deceit—away from anything contrary to God’s com- mands. But instead of leading Eve away from trouble, Adam followed his wife into the path of evil.
Eve thought about what the serpent had said. She allowed her mind to be filled with wrong thoughts.
She looked at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and focused her mind on what she was not allowed to have. She thought, “This fruit looks harmless to me. It even looks tasty. I bet it tastes sweet.”
So she stepped closer to the tree.
“What if the serpent is right?” she wondered. “Perhaps I can get special knowledge if I eat this fruit. Why, I would become just like God! Maybe that’s why God is trying to keep it away from me.” With her mind filled with doubt and clouded by vanity, Eve reached for the nearest, juiciest-looking fruit and took a bite (verse 6). Then she gave a piece of it to her husband. Adam followed her lead and ate.
Cause and Effect
God saw what was happening. He had the power to stop it, but did not. He allowed Satan to tempt and deceive the woman. And though He had commanded them not to, God allowed Adam and Eve to eat the for- bidden fruit. This was a test of their character. God wanted to know whether or not they would obey Him or rely upon themselves.
Remember, God cannot instantly create His holy, righteous character in people. Godly character is so precious and special, it takes much time, patience and learning to develop. It does not happen overnight. Also, God does not force His ways on people. He does want everyone to be happy and live forever, just as He does. But as with the angels, God gave Adam and Eve free choice—the chance to choose for themselves whether they would obey or disobey Him. God wanted them to choose to obey Him, to want to follow His lead. The Creator knew that if they did, they would live happy, healthy lives.
But when Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, something strange happened. Up until this time, they were naked. Since there were no other people around and the weather was perfect and sunny, they felt no need to wear clothes. But upon eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve looked at their naked bodies and felt ashamed. They decided for themselves that it was wrong for them to be naked. They did not rely on God to teach them. So they rushed to sew together clothing made from fig tree leaves (verse 7).
Next Sabbath: Part Two: IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Bible Reading
The Book of Tobit or Tobias
Absence of Tobias mourned by his Parents
Tobit Chapter Five
Next Sabbath: Chapter 5
The Book of Tobit or Tobias
Absence of Tobias mourned by his Parents
Tobit Chapter Five
1 Tobias then replied to his father Tobit, 'Father, I shall do everything you have told me.
2 But how am I to recover the silver from him? He does not know me, nor I him. What token am I to give him for him to believe me and hand the silver over to me? And besides, I do not know what roads to take for this journey into Media.'
3 Then Tobit answered his son Tobias, 'Each of us set his signature to a note which I cut in two, so that each could keep half of it. I took one piece, and put the other with the silver. To think it was twenty years ago I left this silver in his keeping! And now, my child, find a trustworthy travelling companion-- we shall pay him for his time until you arrive back-- and then go and collect the silver from Gabael.'
2 But how am I to recover the silver from him? He does not know me, nor I him. What token am I to give him for him to believe me and hand the silver over to me? And besides, I do not know what roads to take for this journey into Media.'
3 Then Tobit answered his son Tobias, 'Each of us set his signature to a note which I cut in two, so that each could keep half of it. I took one piece, and put the other with the silver. To think it was twenty years ago I left this silver in his keeping! And now, my child, find a trustworthy travelling companion-- we shall pay him for his time until you arrive back-- and then go and collect the silver from Gabael.'
4 Tobias went out to look for a man who knew the way to go with him to Media. Outside he found Raphael the angel standing facing him, though he did not guess he was an angel of God.
5 He said, 'Where do you come from, friend?' The angel replied, 'I am one of your brother Israelites; I have come to these parts to look for work.' Tobias asked, 'Do you know the road to Media?'
6 The other replied, 'Certainly I do, I have been there many times; I have knowledge and experience of all the ways. I have often been to Media and stayed with Gabael one of our kinsmen who lives at Rhages in Media. It usually takes two full days to get from Ecbatana to Rhages; Rhages lies in the mountains, and Ecbatana is in the middle of the plain.'
7 Tobias said, 'Wait for me, friend, while I go and tell my father; I need you to come with me; I shall pay you for your time.'
8 The other replied, 'Good, I shall wait; but do not be long.'
9 Tobias went in and told his father that he had found one of their brother Israelites. And the father said, 'Fetch him in; I want to find out about his family and tribe. I must see if he is going to be a reliable companion for you, my child.' So Tobias went out and called him,'Friend,' he said,'my father wants you,'
10 The angel came into the house; Tobit greeted him, and the other answered, wishing him happiness in plenty. Tobit replied, 'Can I ever be happy again? I am a blind man; I no longer see the light of heaven; I am sunk in darkness like the dead who see the light no more. I am a man buried alive; I hear people speak but cannot see them.' The angel said,' Take comfort; before long God will heal you. Take comfort.' Tobit said, 'My son Tobias wishes to go to Media. Will you join him as his guide? Brother, I will pay you.' He replied,' I am willing to go with him; I know all the ways; I have often been to Media, I have crossed all its plains and mountains, and I know all its roads.'
11 Tobit said, 'Brother, what family and what tribe do you belong to? Will you tell me, brother?'
12 'What does my tribe matter to you?' the angel said. Tobit said, 'I want to be quite sure whose son you are and what your name is.'
13 The angel said, 'I am Azarias, son of the great Ananias, one of your kinsmen.'
14 'Welcome and greetings, brother! Do not be offended at my wanting to know the name of your family; I find you are my kinsman of a good and honourable line. I know Ananias and Nathan, the two sons of the great Shemaiah. They used to go to Jerusalem with me; we have worshipped together there and they have never strayed from the right path. Your brothers are worthy men; you come of good stock; welcome.'
15 He went on, 'I engage you at a drachma a day, with the same expenses as my own son's. Complete the journey with my son
16 and I shall go beyond the agreed wage.' The angel replied, 'I shall complete the journey with him. Do not be afraid. On the journey outward all will be well; on the journey back all will be well; the road is safe.'
17 Tobit said, 'Blessings on you, brother!' Then he turned to his son. 'My child', he said, 'prepare what you need for the journey, and set off with your brother. May God in heaven protect you abroad and bring you both back to me safe and sound! May his angel go with you and protect you, my child!' Tobias left the house to set out and kissed his father and mother. Tobit said,' A happy journey!'
18 His mother burst into tears and said to Tobit, 'Why must you send my child away? Is he not the staff of our hands, as he goes about before us?
19 Surely money is not the only thing that matters? Surely it is not as precious as our child?
20 The way of life God had already given us was good enough.'
21 He said, 'Do not think such thoughts. Going away and coming back, all will be well with our child. You will see for yourself when he comes back safe and sound! Do not think such thoughts; do not worry on their account, my sister.
22 A good angel will go with him; he will have a good journey and come back to us well and happy.'
5 He said, 'Where do you come from, friend?' The angel replied, 'I am one of your brother Israelites; I have come to these parts to look for work.' Tobias asked, 'Do you know the road to Media?'
6 The other replied, 'Certainly I do, I have been there many times; I have knowledge and experience of all the ways. I have often been to Media and stayed with Gabael one of our kinsmen who lives at Rhages in Media. It usually takes two full days to get from Ecbatana to Rhages; Rhages lies in the mountains, and Ecbatana is in the middle of the plain.'
7 Tobias said, 'Wait for me, friend, while I go and tell my father; I need you to come with me; I shall pay you for your time.'
8 The other replied, 'Good, I shall wait; but do not be long.'
9 Tobias went in and told his father that he had found one of their brother Israelites. And the father said, 'Fetch him in; I want to find out about his family and tribe. I must see if he is going to be a reliable companion for you, my child.' So Tobias went out and called him,'Friend,' he said,'my father wants you,'
10 The angel came into the house; Tobit greeted him, and the other answered, wishing him happiness in plenty. Tobit replied, 'Can I ever be happy again? I am a blind man; I no longer see the light of heaven; I am sunk in darkness like the dead who see the light no more. I am a man buried alive; I hear people speak but cannot see them.' The angel said,' Take comfort; before long God will heal you. Take comfort.' Tobit said, 'My son Tobias wishes to go to Media. Will you join him as his guide? Brother, I will pay you.' He replied,' I am willing to go with him; I know all the ways; I have often been to Media, I have crossed all its plains and mountains, and I know all its roads.'
11 Tobit said, 'Brother, what family and what tribe do you belong to? Will you tell me, brother?'
12 'What does my tribe matter to you?' the angel said. Tobit said, 'I want to be quite sure whose son you are and what your name is.'
13 The angel said, 'I am Azarias, son of the great Ananias, one of your kinsmen.'
14 'Welcome and greetings, brother! Do not be offended at my wanting to know the name of your family; I find you are my kinsman of a good and honourable line. I know Ananias and Nathan, the two sons of the great Shemaiah. They used to go to Jerusalem with me; we have worshipped together there and they have never strayed from the right path. Your brothers are worthy men; you come of good stock; welcome.'
15 He went on, 'I engage you at a drachma a day, with the same expenses as my own son's. Complete the journey with my son
16 and I shall go beyond the agreed wage.' The angel replied, 'I shall complete the journey with him. Do not be afraid. On the journey outward all will be well; on the journey back all will be well; the road is safe.'
17 Tobit said, 'Blessings on you, brother!' Then he turned to his son. 'My child', he said, 'prepare what you need for the journey, and set off with your brother. May God in heaven protect you abroad and bring you both back to me safe and sound! May his angel go with you and protect you, my child!' Tobias left the house to set out and kissed his father and mother. Tobit said,' A happy journey!'
18 His mother burst into tears and said to Tobit, 'Why must you send my child away? Is he not the staff of our hands, as he goes about before us?
19 Surely money is not the only thing that matters? Surely it is not as precious as our child?
20 The way of life God had already given us was good enough.'
21 He said, 'Do not think such thoughts. Going away and coming back, all will be well with our child. You will see for yourself when he comes back safe and sound! Do not think such thoughts; do not worry on their account, my sister.
22 A good angel will go with him; he will have a good journey and come back to us well and happy.'
Next Sabbath: Chapter 5
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