This fall I’m enjoying studying Genesis in my Bible study group. Here is part of chapter 2 which tells us about God creating the first humans:
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens…the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And 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 … The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. 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. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 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 closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. (from Genesis 2, the New International Version)
What I notice particularly in this passage is how attentive God is to all Adam’s physical and emotional needs. God gives Adam a meaningful task to occupy him. God put trees in the garden which not only were good for food but were pleasing to the eye, for Adam to enjoy. God explains his rule and the consequences of not keeping it clearly to Adam so it is not possible for Adam to offend God without realizing. Even in giving rules God is generous rather than restrictive: “You are free to eat from any tree except one”.
God understands that no animal can be a “suitable helper” for Adam and that Adam does need one (“It is not good for man to be alone”) so God makes a woman for Adam. (By the way, nothing in Genesis chapter 1 or 2 states that women are inferior to men. The word “helper” does not have this emphasis since it is most often used of God, in the Bible, to describe Him as “Israel’s helper”. Also, in the first chapter of Genesis, we read that God created both man and woman in His image and both of them were to rule over the animals together.)
When I read about how God looked after Adam, so he would be happily occupied, in a pleasant environment and with a human friend, I’m encouraged that God does know what I need too and will take care of me. Let’s take all our concerns to God in prayer, believing that he will be as attentive to our needs as he was to Adam.
Helen a couple of comments. What was in it for God to need to keep Adam ignorant? Why of all the trees the one of “knowledge” was the forbidden one. Isn’t the basis of religious thinking, don’t go studying it?
Was Adam born with functioning reproductive genitalia? I was thinking about how Eve was created as an afterthought, one would imagine Adam must have had some post Eve surgery done.
We were all punished for Adam wanting a little knowledge hey?
Ivan
Hi Ivan, I wrote this back when I was a Christian. These days I am much more skeptical and also wonder why it is that we are all punished for what Adam did (or so certain Christians teach).
And, yes, either Adam had more surgery than Eve being made from his rib or he started out with some very redundant organs.
Anyway I never understood the story as meaning God wanted to keep Adam ignorant. I thought it was about Adam having the opportunity to show he trusted God by not going against what God said. However, these days I question what is so great about this sort of hierarchical relationship in which God’s role is to be in charge and Adam’s is to obey. It’s not how adults generally relate to each other in good relationships.