In The Beginning

Growing is a process, and that process is often riddled with difficulty, hardship, and frustration.  Yet the outcome of growth is good and full of hope.  Growth is painful, always has been, but its pain is endured for the prize that it brings.  Sin, however, has caused the natural process of growth to be more difficult than God had intended.  In order to grow the way God desires we need to step back and take a look at God’s perspective from the beginning.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).  God is the source of creation.  He is the source of both the spiritual and material, and He is the source of all life.  “Then God said,” and out of what didn’t exist came into being all of creation, and He declared it good.  He gave life to the plants and breathed life into the crown of His creation – man, “The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).   Man became, not of his own volition, but from the grace of a loving creator.

But not only is God the source, he created man for a purpose, to have a relationship with God and with those like himself, “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).  He placed them in an environment that encouraged intimate fellowship, communication, interdependence, and love.  He walked with them in the garden, talked with them, and helped them to discover who they were in Him.

Yet, they weren’t the same; God, man, and woman.  They were not only different physically they had different roles.  God was the creator, source, and sustainer.  Man was the head, the leader, and the provider for his new family.  The woman was his helper, supporter, encourager, and eventually the bearer and caregiver of their children.  Roles were important for social order, not to exert superiority but to efficiently divide responsibilities.  God set these parameters and each found fulfillment as they lived out their roles the way God intended. 

In the beginning there was no question as to who was in charge; God was the boss.  As the creator He alone had the right to decide what was good and what was evil, what were the man’s responsibilities and what were the woman’s.  “But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat”  (Genesis 2:17).  God in his goodness provided for all the needs of his new creation, and only prohibited them in one area, “Don’t touch that fruit, or you will die!”  It was the ultimate test of authority, to establish a rule that had the potential to be broken.  Who is the boss, was the question.  Live within the bountiful garden that I have given, with all its beauty and provision, or disobey and die.  Who is the boss?  Who had the right within Himself to declare good and evil? 

There was nothing sinister in God’s placing a choice before them, if it hadn’t been the fruit it would have been something else.  Adam and Eve had an opportunity to grow close to one another, find satisfaction in their roles, enjoy their creator, and to live life in abundance.  It was an environment that we all long to return, because deep in our hearts we know it was good.  Yet, paradise was lost, and the process of growth interrupted, and the results were devastating.  I’m just saying…