Genesis - Part 4
Genesis 2:4-17 - The 1st Account of: What Became of God's Creation? Part I of II
Meeting Purpose
Discuss God's purposes for creation and mankind
Key Takeaways
The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever
God created man to worship and obey Him, which was expressed through keeping His commands
Choice and obedience are central to having a loving relationship with God
Topics
God's Purposes in Creation
He planted a garden and gave man the purpose of working it and keeping it (cultivating and obeying)
This "work" was meant to be restful service and worship, not toil, before the Fall
The Command and Choice
God commanded man to eat from any tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Choice is central to a loving relationship with God and impacts all relationships
Implications of Obedience and Choice
Obedience leads to the joy of fulfilling God's purposes and enjoying Him
Like Christ, our greatest joy comes from obeying the Father
Love is expressed through choosing to obey God's commands
Next Steps
Reflect on how these passages shape your identity and life purpose
Consider why only God can discern good and evil
Discuss the role of choice in relationships and how it relates to love
Action Items
Research the nuances of the different Hebrew words used in Genesis 2:15 and 2:8 to gain further insight into the intended meaning
Study Hebrews 4:10 to gain a fuller understanding of the spiritual rest provided by Jesus Christ -
Application Exercises
In Gen.2:4-17, in what ways have these passages affected your identity and purpose in life?
Scholars have said that God alone is able to discern the knowledge of good or evil. Describe why you think that is true?
Why is it important that God gave us ‘choice’?
In what ways does choice influence relationships?
Describe some of the pros and cons of choice that impact relationships.
What does choice have to do with love(agape) in a relationship?