Step 7

GOD FORMS MAN

Genesis 2:1-25

Key Verse 2:7

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.

Intro: In today’s passage God forms man. He gives him life, his place to live, work to do, way to keep his relationship with God, and his family. We can learn how God designed and shapes our lives.

Read verses 4-7. How was man formed? Where did his life come from?

** Body made from dirt; God formed it. 

** Life was breathed from God.

>>Knowing that life comes from God gives meaning to our lives. It was not an accident in the universe, but the design of God.

>>Man is most important to God. This passage shows how he designed the world and the aspects of his life for man’s good.

Read verses 8-15. Where was man put to live? Who put him there? What do the following phrases show about God? 

“all kinds of trees grow out of the ground” (9a)

“pleasing to the eye and good for food” (9b)

“A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters” (10)

“The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.” (11)

“the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (9c)

“to work it and take care of it” (15)

 

** In a garden in the east, in Eden. (note: Eden means ‘delight’)

** God did. God planted the garden for him, and then God ‘put’ him there. God designed man’s place to live.

** These phrases show what kind of place God made for man and put him in. It is a wonderful place. We can see that God loves us and provided the best place for us. He knows us. And he is good.

** God also gave him work to do. Man’s work and purpose come from God. We were made to work (for God’s purpose). 

Read verses 16-17. 

Why do you think God gave this command? 

What does the command teach about freedom?

What does the command teach about life and death?

How was this command God’s provision for man?

** It is for our good so we can have a genuine love relationship with God. In giving man the choice, he made him free. It was the part of the garden that centered man’s life around God.

** God gave man freedom. He did not make robots.

** Life comes from God. Death comes from breaking God’s command (sin). 

** Keeps man in the relationship / life with God. 

Read verses 18-25. 

What did God say about man’s situation?

What do the words “suitable helper” teach about the relationship between: a man and wife and God?

What does the man’s confession in v. 23 show about God’s provision?

What is the significance of the two being united and becoming “one”?

Why is it significant that they felt no shame?

** 1) note: God is the one that noticed man’s situation in need and brought it to attention; it did not come from God; 2) verse 18, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 

** He loves us and pays attention to our situation. God called the woman a “helper suitable” for man. Help him do what? To serve God. Marriage came from God, for God’s purpose.

** He confessed that God gave him the most suitable. It was good.

** God united them. They are one, not two.

** Nothing to be ashamed of. Innocent, pure relationship.

Summary: Today’s passage teaches us that man’s life comes from God and is for God. He formed man’s life, where he lived, what work he did, how to keep his relatinship with God, and established his family. These are the major things everyone figures out during their lives: where to live, where to work, how to know and serve God, and how to get married. But we see that God designed and formed these things. He provides (and he provides the best). Like Adam, we just give ourselves to serve God and have faith that he will provide what is best in his best time and way.  We offer all these aspects of our lives to be formed by God for God. 

---