As I was reading, I felt prompted to consider the creation of man. I was also inspired to view this creation as having function and purpose (After all, any worthwhile creation has purpose consistent with its creation… for example one would not create a chair if they didn’t desire to sit.) I was told that I should read and learn the purpose of God’s choice to create man.
Creation:
Genesis 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Here we see that God created man in his OWN image. This implies that we are endowed with features and characteristics that are reflections of God’s own features and characteristics. As I narrowed my focus, I could see that free-will, or rather (sentience and reason) specifically, are features and characteristics of God that are profoundly unique among God’s other creations.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
We are shown how males and females (created in the image of God) were commanded to be fruitful and multiply. Also, mankind was given dominion over other creatures created by God. This points to another characteristic feature (image) of God that is reflected in man.…dominion.
Genesis 2:15
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Here I am prompted to observe the actions of the Lord God. The word “TO” is a word that expresses intent. We see the new creation (man) being placed into the garden to dress it and keep it…
Vocabulary Note 1: the word “dress” Strong’s H5647: abad (aw-bad) comes from the Hebrew word meaning to till or cultivate but also means to work or to serve…and in special circumstances…this word can be translated to mean worship.
Vocabulary Note 2: the word “keep” Strong’s H8104: shamar (shaw-mar) comes from the Hebrew word meaning to guard or to take charge of… or to watch (as a watchman or ward.)
Genesis 2:19-20
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
In this verse we see Adam at work with God in partnership to name every animal. This is an important verse because it shows an aspect of the partnership and relationship God had intended for his creation. It also shows the degree to which God provided mankind dominion over God’s own creations.
Command:
Genesis 2:16-17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Here we see the LORD God set up the first commandment by pointing out the abundant blessings that he provides to his creation. (Positive– Admonitive)
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The spirit shows me that this first command is given as a negative imperative: “Thou shalt NOT eat of” the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Also, we can observe the penalty for deliberately choosing to ignore the Father’s command. We are shown very clearly that the outcome would assuredly be death. (We will look into further into the idea of death later…)
Man’s Decision:
Genesis 3:6-7
6 And when the woman SAW that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she TOOK of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
This verse shows the clear free-will decision-making process. This verse is carefully composed to reveal how mankind is often led to sin.
- 1st Eve Saw (Physical senses)
- 2nd Eve REASONED that is was pleasant and desirable (Decision-making processes conducted by the inner-man.)
- 3rd Eve ACTED (took) (Outward manifestation through action in the world)
I am shown how humanity is often deceived and frequently led into sin. We receive information through our senses, construct a conscious inner rational and then enact our choices into the world.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
This verse communicates that the eyes of knowledge were opened in Adam and Eve…. BUT their first observation (having been endued with the power of knowledge of good and evil) was that they were in an uncomfortable state of nakedness (evil.) Also, it is clear that Adam and Eve set out to cover themselves… We can see this action in ourselves when we are motivated by shame, guilt and/or grief. This implies that the desire to cover themselves was man’s first attempt to cover his sin… AND that sin itself was the unique characteristic that was perceived as nakedness.
Genesis 3:9-10
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
God calls out to Adam… This implies that Adam has found himself in a position where he was outside God’s presence… The spirit shows me that it wasn’t that God couldn’t see Adam… BUT that Adam had found himself in a state HE was unfamiliar with. When God calls to Adam, its to ask ADAM where HE has found HIMSELF!? This immediately implies separation and disconnection.
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Here we see the effect of breaking the first commandment…Adam admits that he perceives nakedness…BUT not only nakedness… but SHAME associated with nakedness. The spirit shows me how that originally, Adam and Eve were clothed in the righteousness of God. They had no way to perceive themselves as naked. I am shown how the effects of death had already begun to manifest as a perception of nakedness which revealed evidence that Man had injured his relationship with his creator. Adam was inclined to hide himself because the poison of shame had entered his being and tore him from the righteousness he had in his Father.
Genesis 3:11-12
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
In this verse, we can observe that God is very purposeful in asking a question to which he already knows the answer… this implies that God intends to remind Adam of his commandment and then to convict his conscience. We begin to see the justice of God as he holds his creation accountable for answering the question… BUT we can see that this line of questioning actually sets up an opportunity to demonstrate the downward direction and nature of Man’s death.
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
ANNNND Here it is… We see that rather than admitting his fault and taking responsibility for his own actions before God– Adam immediately shifts blame and redirects the focus of his sin onto his wife. This implies that DEATH not only injures the relationship between Mankind and his creator, but it also creates a toxic selfishness that destroys a man’s ability to relate outwardly toward others.
Death… is the birth of selfishness…
Death and Curses:
Genesis 3:17-19
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
The spirit compels me to observe a couple of important thoughts in verse 17. First, the verse points out a relational truth: God alone is our highest authority. Even though a covenant relationship is honored between a man and a woman, God makes it clear here that HE and HIS words are to take precedence above and beyond the wishes and words of the spouse. Second, the ground (also land) is cursed. The spirit draws a distinction here between death (as the separation from God’s presence) and the cursed ground as a loss of immortality and the transition to a temporary mortal existence.
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
The spirit explains that there are layers of meaning built into the “thorns” imagery:
- First, thorns and thistles grow in a desolate place…And so we are given a vividly stark contrast between the lush and hospitable Garden (God’s Presence) and the arid and desolate wilderness OUTSIDE the direct presence of God.
- Second, thorns and thistles are metaphors for difficulty and strife. Man was destined to live in a fallen place where he would have to contend with circumstances and individuals that would prick and poke at his resolve.
- Third, thorns and thistles would literally grow as man was trying to sustain himself through agricultural efforts.
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
The final aspect of the curse describes the sheer amount of work and toil needed to sustain mortal life and that mankind would have to work in this way… laboring for food… until he withered away and returned to the dust from whence he came.
The Prophecy:
Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This verse is a prophecy and a promise. Speaking to the serpent here, God explains that the Seed of the Woman (Some unknown Victor) would be raised up and would bruise his head… AND that in so doing the serpent would successfully bruise his heel. I am shown how this is the first prophetic description of a Messianic personality that would rise to destroy the serpent.
I was also inclined to carefully consider the meaning of HEAD and HEEL.
- Head: the most important part of an animal. The head is the seat of intellect and reason, the governing seat of the body. To bruise (destroy) the head would be a destruction to the effectual power of this entity and would require the body to work differently after the injury.
- Heel: The lowest possible part of the body. Certainly, this is not unimportant, as poison can enter in from the wound and destroy the man and his body. Further, the heel is connected to the foot which implies the walk or the journey is impaired.
Tying this all together, this verse prophecies that a messianic victor would rise to bruise the head (the intellectual work of the adversary) while the adversary would destroy his body and attack the walk (the journey) of the follower.
The First and Last Adam
1st Corinthians 15:47-46
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Here we see a mystery revealed: That as we have our earthly nature in Adam, being ourselves a living soul. Christ (the last Adam) was made a quickening spirit (this is why Christ had to depart (So he could send the HOLY spirit to us.)
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Here we see the order of things fallen: A man on Earth is first born of his mother and is a natural man whose nature is the flesh. We see that thereafter a man can later be borne of the spirit. (Remember though, that Adam was created first in the presence of God… and thus man’s first nature WAS spiritual.)
Ephesians 5:29-32
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Here Paul draws an allusion to the relational creature which is made one flesh through Christ.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Here Paul formally demonstrates that those joined together in a marital covenant are like those joined to the BODY of Christ.
1st Corinthians 6:17
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Here we see that he who is joined to Christ is made of one spirit in him.
The BLOOD:
Leviticus 17:11
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
This verse shows that God, through the law required blood to cover sin… AND that it was specifically the LIFE in that blood that covered sin… (remember that sin is equated with nakedness and death.) We are learning that only LIFE itself can cover sin and death.
Hebrews 9:22
9 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
We see again that the LAW (Old Covenant) required blood and life to remove sin.
Ephesians 1:7
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Here we see that it is CHRIST’S blood that contains LIFE… and that LIFE is present in the blood he shed to remove (forgive) our sin. I am reminded that all of this is done as a powerful and loving act of grace.
Vocabulary note: Grace: Receiving something that is undeserved.
Hebrews 9:14
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Here we see how the blood of Christ restores life to the soul through the repairing of dead works…interesting choice of words “dead works” … and these which accompany a troubled conscience…are filled with earthly shame, guilt, and grief.
The New Creature:
Isaiah 43:19
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
This verse is a prophecy from the great prophet Isaiah that declares that the LORD will do a NEW thing …AND that he will bring order to the wilderness and water to the desert. This prophecy directly describes a repair given to the “cursed ground” which is as a wilderness and a desert on which mankind would have to labor and toil as he journeyed.
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Here we see a scripture that points to a new life IN PLACE of the old. It explains that when we are bound with Christ, our old nature is put to death and that a spiritual space is created for Christ to enter in, dwell and LIVE through us.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This verse is even more clear. We can see once again that a man is invited to live in Christ. This man is described as a new creature, one characteristically different from the man born of the flesh whose nature is fashioned of sin and death. Rather, the man is remade in the image and likeness of the LIVING Christ.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Here we see that the process of redemption is another act of creation… that God himself is recreating man in a perfected image through Christ… This creation is capable of surrender…walking in good works that are more aligned with his original purpose (a righteous dominion designed to cultivate and protect God’s own creation) through the repairing of our divine nature and our eternal relationship with himself.
John 5:24
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Finally, we receive the words of the Savior himself as he declares that those who believe on HIM have everlasting life… AND that this belief (in faith) causes the man to pass from death into life.
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In summary, the spirit has guided me to understand that God created man for partnership and dominion. Mankind was created reflecting key attributes of God, including free will, relationship and dominion. Our job was to multiply, cultivate and protect the creation of God and we were created fully clothed in righteousness–capable of unimpeded intimacy and worship.
Man fell because of disobedience. The formation of the self-will (the ego) triggered the death of mankind. We learn that death is the state of disconnection with God and that every human being is now born outside the direct presence of God. Mankind lost his immortality and was driven from the Garden onto the “Cursed Ground.” The ground became the very wilderness where we would labor for ourselves and our mortal life.
Nonetheless, because of God’s great love, a prophesied Messianiac victor would be raised up from out of the very state of death to conquer the adversary by receiving a blow to the heel and letting free-flowing blood become an offering for sin.
Those who believe and are sincere (surrendering the pleasures of life in the flesh) would pass back from a state of earthly death to a state of spiritual and everlasting life. Such is the will and love of the most high God!
Amen.
Cry Word 