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The first several books of Genesis are exciting books of the bible, but the first 2 chapters are very exciting. Many people gloss over these two chapters because of their familiarity, but I invite you to take another glance at them. If you read the first chapter out loud, think about creation. Try to write out what was created each day and think about it. The earth was formless. What does formless look like?  The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. What waters? Oh, and the spirit that was hovering is the Spirit of God that lives in followers of Jesus Christ. And Jesus was there creating.

On day 2 the sky was created but there was no land yet, that was for day 3 when He separated the waters to create the ground that would produce vegetation. Skip down to day 6 when God said, “Let us make mankind in our own image”.  God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were there as one, yet distinct. Even though I have been taught that all my life, it still confounds me when I ponder it. Once God had created mankind (both male and female), He looked at all that He created, and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31).

God gave Adam and Eve the garden of Eden with one set of instructions: they could eat from any tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil or they would certainly die. (Genesis 2:17). So, they went about cultivating the land and enjoying everything as God had instructed when along comes the serpent (Satan).  He tempts Eve by telling her that the fruit is good and that she would not “certainly die”, using God’s exact words, and if I can put my imagination to it, he was probably saying it mockingly. So, this is where doubt sets in and temptation arises. Eve looked at the fruit with a new light; she began to think about it, she let the words ruminate in her brain, probably imagining what the fruit would taste like in her mouth. She ignored the fact that she was in paradise surrounded with delectable vegetation; she could have had anything she wanted except that one piece of fruit. Isn’t that how sin begins? We look at something we don’t have or shouldn’t have and begin to wonder. We begin to tell ourselves things like “I should have that” or “it won’t matter just once”.

Eve takes the fruit, takes a bite, then she gives it to Adam to partake. Did you catch that? Adam was right there beside her as she was tempted, keep that in mind for later. After Adam and Eve eat of the fruit, the bible tells us their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked, so they quickly sewed together fig leaves for covering.

A short time later God comes through the garden looking for them. Now, we know that God knows what happened. He wasn’t really looking for them because he didn’t know where they were. He wanted to see what their reaction would be. He calls out to them and when they answer, Adam tells God that he knew he was naked, so he was hiding. This is when God forces Adam and Eve to answer for what they have just done; he asks them who told them they were naked and then asks directly if they ate from the tree they were commanded not to.   Quickly, Adam blames Eve by telling God that “the woman you put here with me….” Then God turns to Eve and she says, “The Serpent deceived me, and I ate it”.  I wonder if Eve said this in a blaming way or more of an ashamed way, admitting that she let herself become deceived.  So many people blame Eve for being tempted and leading Adam astray, but he was right there the entire time. He didn’t try to pull Eve away, he didn’t stop the serpent and tell him to go away, and he certainly didn’t try to protect Eve. No, he stood there watching how it would all play out and he willingly bit of the fruit. After they both confessed, God banishes them from the Garden of Eden, and they begin to toil for their food. Even though they were punished, God provided garments for their protection them from the elements.  Sin always results in consequences, but God always provides.

Later in Chapter 4, we read about their sons Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer and Abel kept flocks.  Abel had brought a sacrifice of the fat of some of the firstborn while Cain brought some of the fruits.  The bible tells us that God was pleased with Abel’s gift but not so much with Cains. Why?  If you read the way it is written, it says Abel gave from the firstborn of his flocks; these were the first fruits of his labor, which means he had to trust that there would be more. He didn’t wait to see if there were going to be more offspring born, he just gave what he had. I wonder if Cain was as generous or if he waited until he had plenty of crop and then gave God some of it.  The former gives from a heart of trust, the latter out of distrust.

When Cain learns that God was more pleased with his brothers offering, he gets jealous. His jealousy led to murder; he brought his brother out to a field and killed him. Jealousy leads to anger, anger leads to rage, and rage leads to violence.  God banishes Cain from the land, forcing him to be a wanderer. When Cain pleads with God to protect him from others who find him, God put a mark on him that would keep him safe from others.

In just 4 chapters of the bible, we have creation, temptation, sin, banishment, provision, pride, murder, and protection. Again, God cannot ignore sin, but he always offers protection and provision. He gave us Jesus as our payment for sin. Even though we deserve the consequences of our sin, we have a way to cleanse us; the saving blood of Jesus that was offered instead of what we deserve. The creation story isn’t just a good read; it is the story of love. It is the beginning of what God knew all along; humans would sin and He would provide a way to those who choose to trust in Him.