Bible Commentaries
Genesis 2

Introduction

THE CREATION OF MAN

(Genesis 2)

When a man thinks that he was created by God in the image of God, his outlook upon life and his

estimate of himself is profoundly affected. If a man feels that he originally came from the hands of God,

and then sees himself breaking God’s law, he is humbled. On the other hand if a man were to think he

was originally an animal, and had come this far, he would feel pride in himself. He would be tempted to

say in his heart, "See how far I have come. There is no stopping me now! I’ll go to the very top!" As a

matter of fact, the popular theories of evolution and the Bible account of the creation are diametrically

opposed to one another. So it follows: a person must choose which to believe. They cannot both be true.

Further study of the Book of Genesis will show this very clearly.

Genesis simply records that God created the heavens and the earth, and all things that are therein. This

same record states that God created man also. God is eternal. He is infinite. That takes Him beyond our

comprehension, but we believe when we read that "God is, and He is a rewarder of them that diligently

seek Him." The Bible gives the account of the creation of the world and of man though not the details of

procedures involved, and yet it very significantly points out without any question that this is the work

of God.

The record is that man was created "in the image of God." The word image is an interesting word. In

the (p.28) Hebrew language that word image means "shadow." When my shadow falls on the ground, I

know that it is mine and that it differs from all others. Shadows may be long or short, broad or thin. The

shadow is dependent upon the reality. As I walk in the sunlight, a creature of flesh and blood, my

shadow falls on the grass or on the pavement or on the sand. Obviously this does not mean that I am

made of sand or pavement or grass. It just means that my general outline is to be seen there on the

ground. And it is my general outline without any details. My shadow is not the same as I am.

When Genesis records that man was created in the likeness of God, this does not mean that the

physical structure of man reflects God. It is man’s personality traits that in some measure reflect the

reality of God. For example, man is able to think up new things. He can be creative and make things that

were never seen before. He can improve things. He can judge and recognize right from wrong. Man can

invent things. Something of the nature of man can be seen by comparing animals. It has been noted in

observing birds that if one were to take a robin’s egg and put it into a sparrow’s nest, the egg would be

hatched as a robin, and while that bird may never have observed any other robins, it will, when it grows

to maturity, build a robin’s nest. It will build its own nest just as all robins do, and it will never change or

improve it. Robins’ nests, swallows’ nests, and eagles’ nests have not changed or improved throughout

time. The way a rabbit digs in the ground and the way a wolf finds his den have not been improved in all

the generations of animals. Only man has this creative capacity which sets him apart from the animal

world and in its measure indicates a likeness to the Creator.

When some students note that the creation of man is described both in chapter 1 and in chapter 2,

they speak of two accounts of the creation of man. These need not be taken as different accounts. As a

matter of fact in chapter 1 the record is that man was created by God to have dominion over the earth. In

chapter 2 appears the classic statement. "The Lord God formed man of the dust of (p.29) the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." This sketches the

tripartite, the threefold nature of man: body, spirit, and soul. The flesh was made of dust, the spirit is

from God who gave it, and the soul occurs in the union. Sometimes the Bible speaks of man as having

body, soul, and spirit; and sometimes it refers to two elements in man as soul and body. Living is

thought of as a matter of keeping body and soul together.

It may be noted at this point that plants, trees, and flowers are never spoken of in the Bible as being

"alive." There are "green" trees spoken of, and "dry" trees. Trees are not spoken of as having life. The

Bible teaches that "the life is in the blood." Only man is spoken of as having a spirit which comes from

God.

The Genesis account of the creation of man is an ennobling, inspiring record. It shows man as created

in the image of God. For a man to think of himself as an animal is debasing. Then he can blame every

selfish, unreasonable tendency in himself on the fact that this is the animal nature coming out in him.

This tends to lead to unchecked immorality.

Genesis records that God completed the creation in six days, but even more important than accepting

and believing that God is the Creator of the universe is the realization of God’s relation to this world and

to man. Even in this first chapter of Genesis the very clear and very profound truth appears that God

not only created the world but He keeps it and judges it. Even so with man: the conduct of man in his

relationship with the sovereign God affects his whole destiny.

The story in Genesis goes on to say that God rested on the seventh day. "And God blessed the

seventh day, and sanctified it." Man was to appreciate the fact that while activity is important, there is

to be a time when work must cease. Man who works is to rest, and that brings a new idea into focus.

Some have the idea that work is part of the curse which was pronounced on Adam and his descendants.

This is not the truth. The fact that man was to labor would (p.30) never hurt him. Adam’s punishment

was that he should labor with difficulty: "in the sweat of thy face." The earth would now bring forth

briars and thorns, and it would not be easy to cultivate the ground. This is what belongs to the curse

upon man because of his sin.

Work in itself is not necessarily a burden, and can actually bring with it a sense of physical well-being.

Sometimes work is a pleasure because of the ensuing results. Then too when work is done for those who

are loved, work is never burdensome. It can however become a weariness to the flesh when there are

difficulties, such as insects and pests and weeds and thistles and thorns. Anyone who has been bonetired

from working knows how wonderful it is to have a period of rest. I can remember when I was

working in the field on a hot day how welcome rest stops were. Rest is a wonderful word.

The word Sabbath means "seventh": the seventh day, the seventh week, the seventh month, the

seventh season, and the seventh group of years. In the Hebrew this word Sabbath or "seventh" has a

twofold meaning. It not only means "seventh," but it also means "rest"; because it is the day God

instituted as a day of rest. By the way, the word seven in this context does not mean "seventh" only in a

series like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, but the "seventh" in proportion. "One" out of every "seven." Sabbath

always means "rest." When the Scriptures speak of letting the land have its "sabbath," the idea is that

farmers should let the land "rest." The law of Moses gave guidance in this matter of agriculture. Every

seventh year the land would be left idle, or as it is called "fallow." That was known as the sabbath year.

The rest being discussed is not a matter of inactivity. It is not a matter of sitting still and not doing

anything. To be sure for those who have been really busy, running from pillar to post and feeling all

worn out, it is a wonderful thing just to sit still and not do anything. However, rest does not need to be

silence, because there can be silence without rest. Rest actually means something peaceful with no strain.

Rest is the opposite from trouble and tribulation and disturbance. (p.31)

The Bible tells of God’s will that all His people should rest periodically. It is a familiar

commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." In the course of living, men may encounter

many strange and new situations, just as the people of Israel did in their long journey in the desert. On

the Sabbath day the activities of men were to be suspended. It is to be a day when work ceases, and is to

be a reward for work well done.

What a wonderful anticipation this can be for all who labor. Even the hardest, most tiring work is more

bearable when the worker can look forward to the day of rest, every seventh day. It has been said that

sin broke the rest God intended for all men, but when God sent His Son to redeem men from sin, He

restored rest. In the Book of Hebrews we read, "there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

In His complete salvation the weary soul finds rest, and the troubled soul finds peace in God. We can

actually live without strain, without discord, without fear, because Christ gives rest and peace of heart

and mind and soul.

THE NATURE OF MAN

(Genesis 2)

Genesis 1:28 records how man was given his first assignment. He was to subdue the earth, which

would mean that he should manage it. He was to make it serve his purposes. This provides the basis for

all industry wherein men busy themselves one way or another to handle and to utilize the things that are

in the natural creation. It is the ground for all science which seeks to know the earth, to control what is

discovered and use it for whatever purpose man has in mind. The record goes on to say that man is to

"have dominion over the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth

upon the earth." This design that man should be in control can lead to a common error on the part of

man.

The Bible records that man sinned, and so he did not carry out what God had in mind for him. In his

own wayward, foolish sinfulness man followed his own ideas. Here it should be noted that whenever

man treats other men as inanimate objects or as animals in trying to subdue them, trouble is certain to

follow. When a man treats his fellow man as a thing, he violates the actual plan of God. Such procedure

can cause only violent reaction because men will fight to the death not to be so dominated.

The one place where dominion can be well applied is to "self." Subduing one’s own natural desires and

having dominion over one’s own willful, erring human nature leads to something very important. Before

starting to subdue the (p.39) earth or other men, a man must start with himself. I can start right in with

the two hundred pounds of the dust of the earth which represents me. To bring my will under control, to

gain dominion over my own natural tendencies is a matter of self-discipline. This is tremendously

important. The Bible says that he who has mastery over his own spirit is "greater than he who taketh a

city."

Genesis 2:7 records, "The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground." The Hebrew word formed

is not "make" or "create" but "build" or "fashion." The Lord God fashioned or formed man out of the

dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and He put him into the garden He had

planted. In the midst of the garden was one tree whose fruit was forbidden to Adam. This involves a

very important principle. For the present let us call it the "separated portion." We do not know

altogether why the tree was called the "tree of knowledge of good and evil," but there are some features

about it that we need to notice. First we see that the tree was within the reach of man. He could lay his

hands on it. Next we read that the fruit was attractive. The commandment given to man concerning this

tree was without explanation, but it contained a warning. It was also a challenge to man’s self-control. All

the fruit of the garden was within man’s reach, and he could have and enjoy everything, except the

forbidden fruit. It was as though God said: "Everything is there within your reach, but you cannot have

everything." In order to be a person of moral stature and uprightness, a man must be able to subdue his

own willfullness and control his own desires. He must be able to say "no" to himself.

In Genesis 2:18 are these amazing and profound words: "It is not good that the man should be alone."

This flat, dogmatic statement is true about all mankind anywhere, everywhere. History proves it.

Biography shows it. Psychology and sociology recognize it. It is true at all levels that it is not good that

man should be alone. In our day and time we refer to this as the social nature of man. And it is true that

for human beings to be normal and natural, they need to be with other human beings. (p.40)

Such social interaction is the origin of all human values. For those who may doubt this statement, let

me illustrate. Let me ask, Is money valuable? If someone were to be stranded on a desert island all alone

and starving, but with a pocketful of money, would money help him? Now, we all accept the fact that

the only reason money is valuable is because it will buy for us the things we need. Every single thing we

count as important is only so because of other people.

Hermits who live alone become peculiar in their thinking and in their way of life. Even a family

member who withdraws himself from the family circle will become strange in his ways. Believe me, for

us to live a normal, balanced life, to get the most out of life, we need to be with people. Relationships

between people are important. Relationship between man and God is vital. Any estrangement or

alienation from God results in a tragic isolation.

In the second part of Genesis 2:18 we read, "I will make him a help meet for him." When we put the

words help and meet together, we miss so much. When we break them apart we find them meaningful. A

"helper meet" for him. "Meet for him" is an old English way of saying "equal to." So actually when we

say "help meet," this means much more than a companion. It refers to someone who can and will help

another and who is equal to the other person. This brings to our mind a very important thing about the

nature of mankind. Fellowship, in order to be important, must be with an equal. This, by the way,

explains a good deal of the distress of many people. When we are so absorbed with self that we are, in

our own estimation, above others, we will find no common meeting ground with others. We might as well

go off by ourselves; and this is not good, and can only lead to an imbalance of our personality.

The idea of a helper originated with God. Man does not always know that he needs a helper equal to

him. This is not the conclusion of social science. This is in God’s benevolent plan for the welfare of man.

Verses 19 and 20 bring something very positively to our minds. We read that God brought every living

creature to Adam: "to see what he (p.41) would call them . . . And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to

the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field." What an amazing feat! This certainly shows the

intellect of man as he came from the hand of God.

The closing words of Genesis 2:20 are: "There was not found a help meet for him." As a boy on the

farm I had some dogs that I remember to this day. I really appreciated and loved these pets. The same is

true of the horses. One can get to know horses like one knows people, and they too can respond to us.

But such animals can never fill human need or take the place of human companionship and communion.

Genesis 2:21-23 tells of the creation of woman. "The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon

Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs (the Hebrew reads, "He took a piece of his side"), and

closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a

woman, and brought her unto the man." This is certainly a strange and amazing record. I am not going to

claim that I can explain the details. However, I am sure of one thing. No animal was taken and improved

and improved until it evolved into a help meet for man. The procedure of creating woman may be

obscure to us, but the implications are plain. Woman is from the side of man. It has been said that she

did not come from his head so as to dominate him, but rather she was taken from his side, that she might

walk beside him. In marriage these two become one.

This is the origin of that concept of unity and equality which has been abused by many so-called

religions. A great many people in this world belong to a certain religion in which a woman is considered a

lower form of life. As a matter of fact, in that particular society man’s food is considered defiled and

unfit to eat if the shadow of a woman falls upon it. You may think this is strange and fantastic, but it is

nevertheless true. Even civilized, intelligent men are capable of cruelty to their wives. Many people

consider that the emancipation of women is a very recent thing, but in reality, in the beginning God

created them equal. Woman is not to help man as a slave or a beast of burden, or by being (p.42) merely

a convenience. When a man recognizes the woman as his equal, he will be helped more by her aid than if

he did not so recognize her. As far as a woman is concerned she will find her satisfaction and the normal

fulfillment of her nature in sharing in her man’s achievements: in his work and in his success. She is at her

best when she supports him and shares with him. As we read in Genesis, woman was to be man’s

mainstay. A culture or a religion or a man who degrades woman is self-degrading. The original pattern

and plan of God is still in effect even though in many cases sin has spoiled it. We read in His Word that a

man will forsake all others and cleave unto his wife. There is no question about this; the Bible places

woman beside man as his equal.