Adam and Eve – Part 1
Genesis 2:4-17
Mar 9, 2025
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig
I. Introduction and Review
A. We are studying the Book of Genesis, verse by verse
1. Moses is writing Genesis as an inspired record of what happened at the beginning of everything
2. We are in Chapter 2
B. Started off with God resting on the Seventh day and setting it above all other days
1. We learned how important rest is for us, so God rested as a pattern to follow, and as a lesson to learn at least three things:
2. That we need physical rest, every evening, and every 7 days
3. That we need a rest deep in our souls – not religion but a rest only Jesus can give you
4. That there is a rest coming to this world that will last 1,000 years - Millennium
C. This morning, we will watch God as he shows off the creation of the first man, Adam
D. This is not a children’s story book – this is the word of God – true from the beginning!
II. Background
A. The Beginnings of Genealogy (Genesis 2:4-6)
1. Genesis 2:4-6 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
2. We use the word “generation” to mean “family history” - tells us who we came from
3. We always research our genealogies going backwards in time
a. Most people know their grandparents, and maybe their great grandparents
b. Some of you can research and find out 6 or 7 generations back
4. But God shows us where genealogies all began
a. They started in Genesis chapter 1 and 2
b. And we all can trace our ancestry back to TWO people, named Adam, and Eve
5. So, the Book you hold in your hands describes the generations/originations of:
a. This book describes the generations, the start of everything
b. The start of the entire universe
c. The beginning of all the stars and planets and galaxies
d. The beginning of this earth
e. The plants, and all the herbs
f. And the start of human life!
g. Totally different that the theory of evolution
6. Everything began on its own day – six days (God is a God of order)
a. Day One – God created an empty shell of a universe called heaven, and empty planet called earth, and He created Light in the midst of the deep darkness here
b. Day Two - The Firmament of air and space around the earth
c. Day Three - Dry Land, and Land-based Life
d. Day Four - The Sun, Moon and Stars
e. Day Five - All Sea and Air Life
f. Day Six - All Land-Based Creatures, including dinosaurs
B. But, Something is Missing (Genesis 2:5,6)
1. Genesis 2:5 … and there was not a man to till the ground.
2. There were no humans – no man to till the ground
a. There was no one to live here on this massive planet
b. No one to work the ground, and pick the fruits, and harvest the grains
c. No one to prune the trees and clear footpaths
d. No one to build homes, or to climb the mountains, or sail the seas
e. With all the life that was everywhere on this planet, God says in verse 5 that the earth was empty of its actual purpose…
f. …To be a home for mankind to live in and enjoy and have dominion over!
3. And there was no rain – just a hot mist rising from the ground, like a sauna
a. Genesis 2:5,6 … for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth… But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
b. A kind of foreshadowing, because it does not rain on this planet until Noah’s day, 1,600 years later, when God flooded the entire earth with a flood
C. Genesis 1 already taught us a lot about the creation of man (Genesis 1:26-29)
1. Let’s go back and review what God said about His creation of the first man and woman…
2. Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 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.
3. Man was made like God. Man is not ‘a’ god but has God’s likeness and image in him
4. Man was made like a mirror to reflect God’s glory – not his own glory
5. Made to have dominion over all the earth and all the life on earth
6. Made as a couple, a pair – God made BOTH man and woman, male and female. Never intended for people to be alone
7. Made them to be fruitful and to have children, a family
8. Made vegetarians, at first
a. Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
b. There was no killing and no death before chapter 3
c. Death came by Adam when he sinned
d. Instead of chicken and beef, Adam ate salads – fruit salads, Caesar Salads, Greek Salads, Caprese Salads, Waldorf Salads, Pasta Salads, and Potato Salads
e. He ate berries and fruits and vegetables, and nuts and seeds
f. And… Adam was healthy!
g. Some of you would do well to enjoy more greens in your meals
D. But now God goes into the most important details about the making of Adam and Eve. We only have time to look at the making of the man. Next week, we will meet Eve.
III. Message
A. The Making of a Man (Genesis 2:7)
1. Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
2. This is back during Day Six
a. This is not a different creation, but a more specific telling of what happened on Day Six – not six million years earlier like evolution imagines…
b. God has just gone back and is now adding “meat to the bones” so to speak!
3. Made out of dust of the ground – dirt
a. It sounds so simplistic, like a potter making a bowl.
b. But a human being is the most complex thing in the universe
1) Blood vessels stretch 60,000 miles if laid end to end—enough to circle the Earth more than twice.
2) Red blood cells complete a full circuit through your body in just about 60 seconds. They'll make 1,000 complete trips through your body in a single day.
3) A human brain contains approximately 86 billion cells called neurons, each connected to thousands of other neurons, creating a network with more than 100 trillion connections
4) Your brain is capable of generating about 70,000 thoughts per day!
5) We all have more than just a heart, and a brain, and lungs – we have 78 highly complex organs at work inside us that make us ALIVE
6) And it all came from dust, in the hands of a loving Creator
c. All other land animals, and trees, and grasses were created from dirt as well
d. But God makes a point to tells us that WE came from dirt too
1) Fashioned, formed, moulded, shaped into a human being – a MAN
2) Not neuter. Not gender neutral or gender fluid. But a MAN
3) This new creation had the shape of a man.
4) He had all the organs of a man. The look of a man – probably looked 30 years old – perfect age. He is like a statue, perfect looking
5) But he is not alive yet!
6) Because, God was not finished his work in him
4. Breathed-into by God Almighty (Genesis 2:7)
a. Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God … breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
b. God gave this man-of-clay the breath of life
c. He breathed right into Adam’s nostrils – inspired LIFE into that bit of clay!
d. And Adam took his first big breath, and began to breathe in and out
e. And now he is alive
1) His heart was beating - His blood was pulsing
2) His lungs were filling with air, and exhaling
3) But God was not finished yet
4) At this point, Adam was no different than all the other animals
5. And God gave him a SOUL inside his body
a. From that moment, this man was not just a living BODY, but a living SOUL
b. A SOUL! Do you know what that is?
1) The real you inside you – just under the skin – it is invisible, but just as real
2) It is the part of you that chooses, makes decisions
3) That laughs and grieves
4) That thinks and ponders and learns
5) And it is the part of you that God so loved, that He gave His only begotten Son
c. The only thing that makes us different than a banana, or a coconut, a cat or a chimpanzee, is our soul!
d. Every person you meet is NOT a body with a soul, but a SOUL that has a body surrounding it
1) Mark 8:36,37 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
2) Jesus said, it is much better to lose a hand or an eye than to lose your soul
6. Along with the soul, God gave man ‘a spirit’ to fellowship with Him
a. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
b. There are three parts to every human being… (1Thessalonians 5:23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
c. Our spirit is different than the soul… only the Bible can show the difference
d. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
e. That’s why some problems in your life are physical – the body is hurting or failing
f. Other problems are emotional in nature – originate in the soul
g. And SOME and spiritual – deep in your spirit, and are problems between you and God
h. You need to know where the problems really are in order to heal them!
7. That changes our perspective about people!
a. A human is not an ‘it’. Not an animal. Not a clump of cells
b. But something specially designed, specially made – specially gifted with a soul
c. Everybody you will ever meet is a soul and a spirit, in a body!
d. So, Here is a man – the first man - Adam
e. Perfectly designed in every way!
f. And yet he is still incomplete.
g. Thankfully, God did not say, “Okay, I am finished. Let’s see what this man does”
h. It would have been a sad life indeed
B. A Special Garden (Genesis 2:8-15)
1. A Place Called Eden (Genesis 2:8)
a. Genesis 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
b. God called an area on earth (somewhere near the Middle East), Eden
c. Eden means “Delight”
d. And in Eden, God planted a special garden – the Garden of Eden
e. And then God took the new human being that He had just formed out of dust, and breathed into him the breath of life and gave him a soul, and placed him in the garden of Eden
2. Special Creation of Life Just for the Man (Genesis 2:9)
a. Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
b. This was a special garden that God instantaneously grew all the fruit trees found around the world – kind of like a lot of the English land owners 200-300 years ago – creating such magnificent gardens like Eden
c. Thousands of trees grew right before his eyes as this man walked through the Garden – fruit trees, vines, herbs, bushes full of berries all appeared in front of him
d. Two very important trees grew in the very centre of the Garden
1) The tree of life
2) And the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
e. God will explain these two trees as we read along
3. A Watered Garden (Genesis 2:10-14)
a. Genesis 2:10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
b. Evidently there was a fountain in the middle of Eden that flowed out of Eden right through the Garden, irrigating it
c. That fountain of fresh water was the source of four major rivers:
1) Pison
a) Genesis 2:11,12 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
b) Covered the land of Havilah (Arabia), where there was/is gold and bdellium and onyx stones. It used to be a lush, fertile land, not a desert
2) Gihon
a) Genesis 2:13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
b) Covered the land of modern Ethiopia (possibly now known as the Nile River)
3) Hiddekel
a) Genesis 2:14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria…
b) Spreads through Persia towards the land of Assyria
4) And the Euphrates river
a) Genesis 2:14 … And the fourth river is Euphrates.
b) A massive river that travelled through modern day Iraq
c) THIS river shows up again in the Book of the Revelation
d. These all existed before Noah’s flood, but after the flood, only two remained
e. You may ask, what is so important about naming these rivers?
f. Well, This locates ‘Eden’ in the Middle East, near to the Promised Land of Israel
C. The Garden Needed Work (Genesis 2:15)
1. Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
2. It was a perfect garden – no question. Perfectly planted. Beautiful
3. But every garden needs work!
a. If you ever see a beautiful garden, no matter how perfectly it started out, it still had to be planted, and trimmed, and cut, and pruned, and watered, and harvested, and cleared for it to stay beautiful
b. To “dress and keep” it means, to keep diligently, watch over it, guard it, keep it safe, protect it, nurture, help it grow and produce fruit and a harvest
c. All that takes Work! Labour. Effort. Time.
4. So, God created mankind to work, not sit around all day and be idle, or PLAY
a. God created humans, and especially men, to work – before marriage is ever introduced
b. Work is good for every one of you!
1) Growing a garden, watching it mature, and then eating from it is extremely enjoyable
2) Getting a job, and paying your own way, and having money to give away is very satisfying
3) Steady WORK builds self-worth
4) Working in life makes us healthier
c. But, being IDLE is destructive to everyone – seriously!
1) Proverbs 19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
2) Proverbs 24:30-34 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth [UNEXPECTEDLY VISITS YOU]; and thy want [HUNGER] as an armed man [THAT ROBS YOU].
d. So, gentlemen, what is your purpose in life?
1) It has always been to find something to do, and do it with your MIGHT!
2) It almost does not matter what – just get busy, doing something that is hard
3) Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
5. There was and is joy in the work – at the beginning it was gardening
a. There was no fatigue or trouble. No sorrow or sweat
b. No weeds. No slugs. No thorns. No bugs or insects that ate the fruits
c. Just joy, and satisfaction in the work
d. And it is still there to some degree
1) Proverbs 12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
2) Proverbs 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes [GET OUT OF BED], and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
e. And gardening is not the only work that satisfies
1) Raising children, fixing cars, building houses – they satisfy
2) Teaching classes, stocking shelves, helping customers, answering phones
3) Delivering mail, driving buses, managing employees
4) It really doesn’t matter what you do
5) Work itself satisfies a man
6) Ecclesiastes 5:12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
7) So, Don’t be too picky about WHAT you do – as long as you get busy working and earning your way!
8) You can always develop your skills along the way – but experience is best
6. Obviously we can work too much, but most people today work way too little
7. And people sit around on their phones way too much, and play computer games
a. I AM TALKING ABOUT MOST OF YOU!
b. It is a SIN to be on your phone for 5 hours a day!
c. Men, You need to get up and work! Get out and work!
d. Ladies, get up and work with the kids. Work alongside your husband. Keep the house. Paint walls, raise chickens, have a hobby!
8. But, Gentlemen, you will never be what God made you to be, until you are working FIRST! Before getting married.
a. 1Thessalonians 4:11,12 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
b. 2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
D. Enjoy Life, But Respect the Limits (Genesis 2:16,17)
1. Genesis 2:16,17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 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.
2. In this paradise of delight called the Garden of Eden, God made one rule
3. A commandment – “thou shalt not eat of it” – sounds like a commandment to me!
a. Not a suggestion, or a hint, but a clear limit on what Adam can and cannot do
b. Freely eat from every tree – enjoy the fruits of his labours
c. Except the tree God called “Knowing Good and Evil” – leave its fruit alone
d. One day he would be able to eat from it, but not yet – he needed to learn obedience
4. And with the commandment, God gave a warning… “Thou shalt SURELY die”
a. The very day you break this law, you will die!
b. Death. Adam had to ponder that. But he knew what it meant, and took it seriously
5. Adam is given a commandment and a warning for him to choose between. So Adam can choose to do what he wants – he and all humans have been created with FREE WILL
a. Modern philosophers argue whether mankind actually has free will, and that we all are just robots in a simulation
b. Calvinism believes all men are robots. That God MADE Adam to choose to disobey!
c. Why would God give the option to choose right or wrong if Adam had no freedom to choose?
d. But Adam had a choice, and when he made the wrong choice, it ruined him, not God
e. You see, the tree and its fruit was not poison – the choice to disobey God ruined him
6. Every choice WILL have consequences!
a. The result of believing God and obeying God is always more life
b. The result/consequence of ignoring God and disobeying His laws is ruin
7. And the consequences of sinning can go as far as death
a. Genesis 2:17 … in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
b. Ezekiel 18: 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
c. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin IS death…
8. This is why we are told to FEAR the Lord – because there are consequences to ignoring God’s limits, and God’s rules, and God’s laws
9. ILLUSTRATION
a. All of us who drive, enjoy the freedom of driving where we want, when we want
b. But there are RULES, commands, limits on our freedom to drive
1) Speed limits
2) Lanes to stay in
3) Stop signs. Yield signs. Railroad crossing signs.
4) Expected courtesies towards other drivers
c. And there are consequences when we ignore and disobey those rules! Like… Speeding tickets, arrests, loss of license, accidents
d. So, do NOT hate rules, or laws, or limits on your “freedoms”
e. Laws need to be obeyed, because they usually are for your good!
E. There was One More Thing to Make (Genesis 2:18)
1. Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
2. Adam was not complete – he needed not just companionship, but help.
a. Even though God walked with Adam, and talked with him throughout the day
b. Maybe even laughed throughout the day
c. But Adam was alone, and incomplete – and Adam knew it – and so did God
3. Had God “forgotten” something?
a. Animals usually live in pairs. Even many plants are male and female
b. No.
c. God is wisely teaching us about WHY He created most living things in pairs
d. Because, ONE is not complete without the other
e. It doesn’t matter what feminism teaches. We are usually incomplete without the other
4. So, God announced He would make for him that missing part…
a. Not a critic. Not a mother. Not a boss. Not a fighter. Not a competitor. Not a nagger.
b. But a helper. God was going to make something that God Himself did not supply
c. Not another man, but a woman
d. And not just ‘a’ woman, but a wife!
5. More next week!
6. Just know this… When you feel incomplete, and you feel oh so alone, trust (Matthew 6:8) … your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. He will take care of meeting your needs
IV.Conclusion - So, what have we learned?
A. This world was made for us to live in, conquer and enjoy – don’t hesitate
B. There was a Garden in Eden – it is not there anymore, but that is where mankind started – in a perfect Garden
C. Mankind is different than the rest of creation – we would just be just another animal if it weren’t for our soul and spirit
D. God created humans, and especially men, to work
E. There is no paradise without laws and rules – God has right commandments
F. And people have free will to choose how they want to live, but they cannot choose the consequences
G. Men ought to fear the Lord – God is serious when He warns us
H. That’s why God gave us His only begotten Son – John 3:16 – the Second Adam