10. What were the consequences for the woman for her disobedience? A) extreme pain during childbearing. B) Your desire shall be for your husband. C) Husband will rule over the wife
The Young's Literal Translation of the Bible by Robert Young compiled in 1898 is an extremely literal translation that attempts to preserve the tense and word usage as found in the original Greek and Hebrew writings. The last phrase in Genesis 3:16 reads:
toward thy husband [is] thy desire, and he doth rule over thee.
Desire – Hebrew “teshuqah” – intense longing; craving; seek to devour. Never be fulfilled. Word used only two other times in OT. Genesis 4:7 (Sin desires Cain – beast seeking to devour prey); Song of Solomon 7:10 (Author’s desire for his beloved.)
Why is “your desire will be for your husband” a negative thing? Does your husband meet all your desires/expectations? Emotional, physical, material (income), spiritual – 100% to the max. Not once has he disappointed you? When he didn’t meet your desires/expectations, how did you feel?
Rule – Hebrew “mashal” - have dominion. God placed woman under the authority of the husband
Why is “he shall rule over you” a negative thing? Inferior position.
Husbands, what kind of ruler are you? Are you a tyrant (one who rules brutally and oppressively) or are you a leader (one who guides and directs to a goal, seeks input from wife, treats with respect)? Or do you exercise any authority at all? Read Ephesians chapter 5.
11. Why was Adam punished? He listened to Eve rather than to God. He accepted her words and rejected God’s. Evidence – He ate the fruit. Do not do something because I tell you t do it. Do it because God said in His word to do it.
12. What were the consequences for the man for his disobedience? Man will have to endure pain, suffering, stress, grief, sorrow, in order to survive. In Eden, man managed the Garden but it was not strenuous labor. No weeds, no crabgrass, no thorns, no briers, no pests (aphids, Japanese beetles, etc.) Perfect weather conditions. Perfect soil conditions. After man’s disobedience, God cursed the earth to make it extremely difficult for man to grow food. Man and nature will be in conflict with one another every single day of his life. Nature will be an obstacle to man’s survival. Despite advances in technology, still difficult today. The ultimate consequence on man’s disobedience is physical death.
13. vs. 21. What did God make for Adam and Eve and how did he make them? Clothing out of animal skin. What had to happen in order for them to be made? Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God did not impact just them. An animal had to die for their clothes to be made. An animal that did nothing to deserve its death died because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. Sound familiar? Foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice. He did nothing to deserve death. Yet He died because of our sins. Adam and Eve become aware of death for the first time.
14. What the final consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience? They were denied access to the tree of life, why? So that a) humanity would not live forever in a sinful condition and b) humanity would experience the ultimate consequence of their choice to disobey God – physical death. To deny them access to the tree of life, God exiled Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. They went from a paradise of joy and bliss to a world of pain and suffering. To ensure that Adam and Eve could not return to Eden, God placed to the east of Eden an angelic being called a cherubim armed with a flaming sword to deny them access. The next time we see the tree of life in Scripture is the book of Revelation. It is found in the New Jerusalem.
15. What were the far reaching consequences of Adam’s choice to disobey God? The choices we make today will have an affect on tomorrow. They will impact you and people around you today and tomorrow.
Romans 5:12 - … sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men …
Romans 5:17 - because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man
Romans 5:18 - one trespass led to condemnation for all men
Romans 5:19 – For by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners
1. Because of Adam’s choice to disobey God, every human being born on this planet has been born in sin … born predisposed to sin. We are born rebellious, selfish, prideful … characteristics that are not godly. As long as we live in a sinful state, we are condemned to experience eternal punishment by God.
2. Led to the creation of a world system that promotes evil and sin.
3. Death – physical and spiritual
16. Didn’t God say Adam and Eve would die the very day they ate of the fruit? Did they? Yes. Read John 3:1-7. The first birth is a physical birth. The second birth is a spiritual birth. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit, they experienced spiritual deaths. Soon after they ate of the fruit, they immediately noticed something was not right within them. Something changed. Something was different. That something was spiritual death. Their spirits were separated from God.
At the time we are born, we are alive physically. Our spirits – that part of us that connects us to God – is dead. To reconnect with God, Jesus says in John chapter 3 our spirits must experience a spiritual birth. How does this happen? John 3:16-18
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Fall - Consequences
1. vs. 7 – What is your interpretation of this verse? Adam and Eve gained a new awareness. Perceived one another differently. Not pure. Not holy. How did it make them feel? Shame. Guilt. Loss of innocence. They felt something in their hearts they never felt before. Thoughts and desires that were not righteous/not good. What did this new awareness prompt them to do? Cover themselves up with fig leaves. If they cover up the fact that they are naked, maybe they would perceive one another in a positive way. The impure thoughts and desires would go away.
2. What did Adam and Eve not do in verse 7? Confess to God their disobedience and seek His forgiveness.
3. When God came to the garden for a visit, what did Adam and Eve do? Hid from God. Why? Embarrassed and afraid.
4. Why did God ask the man where he was? Didn’t God know where the man was? Yes, God knew. He was giving the man and opportunity to admit his mistake and repent.
5. What reason did Adam give God for hiding from Him? Adam said he was afraid because he was naked. He did not want God to see him this way. Fearful of God’s reaction … how God would perceive him.
6. How would you interpret Adam’s response in verse 12 to God’s questions in verse 11? Adam appears to be blaming the woman and God for his (the man’s) mistake at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He refused to take responsibility for his sin. The man did not confess to his failures at the T of K of G and E. He makes it sound like he never had a choice in the matter. What should have been Adam’s response? Yes, I did eat of the fruit of the tree you commanded me not to eat from. I take full responsibility for this disobedience. I should have said or did something to prevent Eve from falling prey to the serpent’s trap.
7. How would you interpret Eve’s response in verse 13 to God’s question to her? Like Adam, Eve sounds like she did not have a choice in the matter. The serpent deceived her. She had no choice but to eat the fruit. Blamed her sin on the serpent. What should have been her response? I ate of the fruit in disobedience to your command. I should not have listened to the serpent.
8. What were the consequences for the serpent for his role in the Fall of Man? A) Cursed to be lower than all other animals. Take a poll of most hated animals and the snake will be at or near the top. B) Cursed to crawl on his stomach. C) Hatred between the serpent and the woman and its descendants and her descendants.
9. What pronoun is used in the second half of verse 15 in reference to the woman’s descendants? Male or female? Male. Single or plural? Single. Many commentators and theologians interpret the curse in verse 15 to be directed at Satan as well as the serpent. The “he” in this verse is Jesus. Jesus would stomp on Satan’s head (the victory at the cross); Satan would strike Jesus’ heel (temporary but painful death of the cross.) God hints at the plan of salvation. First prophecy of the coming of a Savior who will redeem man from his fallen state. God knew that at some point man would use his free will to make the wrong choice. Knowing that, God had in place a plan to redeem man. WOW!!!
2. What did Adam and Eve not do in verse 7? Confess to God their disobedience and seek His forgiveness.
3. When God came to the garden for a visit, what did Adam and Eve do? Hid from God. Why? Embarrassed and afraid.
4. Why did God ask the man where he was? Didn’t God know where the man was? Yes, God knew. He was giving the man and opportunity to admit his mistake and repent.
5. What reason did Adam give God for hiding from Him? Adam said he was afraid because he was naked. He did not want God to see him this way. Fearful of God’s reaction … how God would perceive him.
6. How would you interpret Adam’s response in verse 12 to God’s questions in verse 11? Adam appears to be blaming the woman and God for his (the man’s) mistake at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He refused to take responsibility for his sin. The man did not confess to his failures at the T of K of G and E. He makes it sound like he never had a choice in the matter. What should have been Adam’s response? Yes, I did eat of the fruit of the tree you commanded me not to eat from. I take full responsibility for this disobedience. I should have said or did something to prevent Eve from falling prey to the serpent’s trap.
7. How would you interpret Eve’s response in verse 13 to God’s question to her? Like Adam, Eve sounds like she did not have a choice in the matter. The serpent deceived her. She had no choice but to eat the fruit. Blamed her sin on the serpent. What should have been her response? I ate of the fruit in disobedience to your command. I should not have listened to the serpent.
8. What were the consequences for the serpent for his role in the Fall of Man? A) Cursed to be lower than all other animals. Take a poll of most hated animals and the snake will be at or near the top. B) Cursed to crawl on his stomach. C) Hatred between the serpent and the woman and its descendants and her descendants.
9. What pronoun is used in the second half of verse 15 in reference to the woman’s descendants? Male or female? Male. Single or plural? Single. Many commentators and theologians interpret the curse in verse 15 to be directed at Satan as well as the serpent. The “he” in this verse is Jesus. Jesus would stomp on Satan’s head (the victory at the cross); Satan would strike Jesus’ heel (temporary but painful death of the cross.) God hints at the plan of salvation. First prophecy of the coming of a Savior who will redeem man from his fallen state. God knew that at some point man would use his free will to make the wrong choice. Knowing that, God had in place a plan to redeem man. WOW!!!
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Fall
Read Genesis 2:15-17
1. What commandment did God give to the man? What would happen if man disobeyed this commandment?
You can eat of any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. On the day he eats of it, he will die.
2. Did God give the man this commandment before or after the creation of woman? Before.
3. Why did God place the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden? God wanted man to have a relationship with Him because man chose to, not because he had to. Love is not love if it is forced. He gave man and woman the gift of free will. God did not create man to be a robot/computer. He did not program man to blindly obey Him. God gave man the ability to choose to have a relationship with Him. That is where the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil comes into play. Free will does not exist without choices. God placed the Tree of KG&E in the garden so that man could exercise his free will to choose between obeying or disobeying God. The thing with free will is that just as man has the freedom to choose to obey God, he also has the freedom to choose to disobey God. Was God aware of this? Absolutely yes as we’ll see later in this lesson
Read Genesis 3:1-6
The serpent and Satan associated with one another in the New Testament. Read Revelation 12:9. The serpent allowed itself to be used by Satan to tempt Adam and Eve. Why? No one knows. The words the serpent spoke were Satan’s. Satan did not approach Adam and Eve in his true form. He entered into something Adam and Eve recognized/had an awareness of and were not threatened by.
4. Of all the places Eve could be at in the garden, why is she standing in front of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Curiosity perhaps. Why is it that we can eat the fruit of any tree in the garden but this one? Looks no different from the other trees. Ex. Jami and Christmas presents. We are most susceptible to temptation when we are somewhere we are not suppose to be. The fruit on that tree looks nice. I wonder what that fruit taste like? When that happens you might as well have a target on your heart for the Enemy to aim at.
5. What characteristic is given to the serpent? Crafty; cunning. Definition - skillful, clever, sly; beguile - to please or persuade by use of wiles; charm. Smooth talker. Satan was purposeful in selecting the serpent to tempt Eve. The serpent had the characteristics necessary for the job as opposed to say an armadillo.
6. How did the Enemy in the form of the serpent exhibit craftiness to beguile/charm Eve?
a) Who did the Enemy target for this temptation? He targeted Eve rather than Adam. Why? Read Genesis 2:15-17. When did God give the commandment not to eat from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? Before or after God had created Eve? Before. Eve probably received the commandment from Adam. In Eve’s response to the serpent’s initial question, she added a couple of words to God’s commandment. What was it? “or touch.” God did not say “or touch”. It was probably Adam. He probably added “or touch” to keep Eve from eating the fruit. Eve received God’s commandment concerning the tree as second hand information which does not have the same authority as first hand information. Knowing this, the Enemy was shrewd enough to realize he would have a greater chance of success by directing his temptation at Eve rather than Adam.
b) The Enemy laid a snare by invoking God’s name and using God’s words. For what purpose? To make his words enticing; a subtle/understated move to get Eve’s attention. To get her to focus on his, the serpent’s, words. It is a common tactic of Satan to use God’s Word to tempt people. Can anyone here quote Psalm 91:11-12? Satan knows it. He used it in order to tempt Jesus to sin. Read Matthew 4:5-6. Satan can quote Scripture better than most Christians. He knows every word in the Bible. Satan uses this knowledge to tempt people to disobey God, to question God, to doubt God, to create a false portrayal of God. ex. Family Radio – Judgment Day is May 21, 2011. Back their belief with Scripture. They quote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Zephaniah, Amos, Ecclesiastes, and just about every NT book to support their belief that Judgment Day is May, 21, 2011. Consequences – Deception, confusion, ridicule, and when May 21 comes and goes and no Judgment Day, disillusion. Satan is using Family Radio, like he did the serpent, to destroy/undermine God’s work on earth.
c) How did the discussion between Eve and the serpent begin? Genesis 3:1. The Enemy did not make a statement; rather, he asked a question. For what purposes? 1) To instill doubt in Eve’s heart and mind. Did God really say ….? Did you hear Him correctly? Are you sure He didn’t say? 2) To elicit a response from Eve. To initiate a dialogue … to encourage a dialogue between him and Eve.
d) What was the focal point of the question? The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. For what purpose? Placed Eve’s thoughts on the source of the temptation – the Tree.
Once Eve entered into a dialogue with the Enemy, she was well on her way down the road to sin. Eve had one foot in the snare. Her attention was now on the tree.
7. Read verse 4. How did the serpent make the temptation appealing to Eve? True God doesn’t want you to eat the fruit, but not for the reasons he told you. You’re not going to die. Real reason - to keep you from being like Him, a god. What is a god? The Supreme authority over everything. Someone to be worshipped and obeyed. A god gives commandments telling you what you can do and what you can’t do. Genesis 2:15-17. A god defines what is right and what is wrong. What the serpent was telling Eve … like God, you will have the authority to determine what is good and what is evil. You can make commandments. You will tell others what is right and what is wrong. God’s motive for denying you the fruit from the Tree is not pure. In fact, it is selfish. He wants to be the one and only god. God is intentionally denying you and Adam the opportunity to improve your position on the organizational chart of Creation. Satan speaking from experience. He desired to be like God. Isaiah 14:12-14.
8. Instead of turning away from the serpent and the tree, what did Eve do? She stared intently at the fruit on the tree and began to think/ponder on the serpent’s words. “Be like God, be like God, be like God …” Eve exercised her free will and made a choice. She reached up, grabbed one of the fruit, and ate. The longer you dwell on temptation, the more susceptible you to fall prey to it. She gave one to Adam and he ate.
9. Who has been silent during this whole conversation between the serpent and the woman? 1) Adam. From what we gather from the Scriptures, Adam was present for the serpent and Eve’s conversation but he chose to remain silent. Not once did he intervene to prevent Eve from talking with and listening to the serpent. Makes one wonder why he did not. Ultimately, the idea of being a god appealed to the man and consequently he exercised free will and made the choice to disobey God. 2) God was silent. He did not intervene. Left it up to man and woman to make their choice. He wanted them to freely choose between obeying or disobeying His commandment.
10. When did temptation become sin for Adam and Eve? When Eve listened to the serpent, was that a sin? No. When she looked at the fruit, was that sin? No. Adam and Eve sinned when they ate the fruit in direct disobedience to God’s command.
Next Sunday - consequences
1. What commandment did God give to the man? What would happen if man disobeyed this commandment?
You can eat of any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. On the day he eats of it, he will die.
2. Did God give the man this commandment before or after the creation of woman? Before.
3. Why did God place the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden? God wanted man to have a relationship with Him because man chose to, not because he had to. Love is not love if it is forced. He gave man and woman the gift of free will. God did not create man to be a robot/computer. He did not program man to blindly obey Him. God gave man the ability to choose to have a relationship with Him. That is where the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil comes into play. Free will does not exist without choices. God placed the Tree of KG&E in the garden so that man could exercise his free will to choose between obeying or disobeying God. The thing with free will is that just as man has the freedom to choose to obey God, he also has the freedom to choose to disobey God. Was God aware of this? Absolutely yes as we’ll see later in this lesson
Read Genesis 3:1-6
The serpent and Satan associated with one another in the New Testament. Read Revelation 12:9. The serpent allowed itself to be used by Satan to tempt Adam and Eve. Why? No one knows. The words the serpent spoke were Satan’s. Satan did not approach Adam and Eve in his true form. He entered into something Adam and Eve recognized/had an awareness of and were not threatened by.
4. Of all the places Eve could be at in the garden, why is she standing in front of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Curiosity perhaps. Why is it that we can eat the fruit of any tree in the garden but this one? Looks no different from the other trees. Ex. Jami and Christmas presents. We are most susceptible to temptation when we are somewhere we are not suppose to be. The fruit on that tree looks nice. I wonder what that fruit taste like? When that happens you might as well have a target on your heart for the Enemy to aim at.
5. What characteristic is given to the serpent? Crafty; cunning. Definition - skillful, clever, sly; beguile - to please or persuade by use of wiles; charm. Smooth talker. Satan was purposeful in selecting the serpent to tempt Eve. The serpent had the characteristics necessary for the job as opposed to say an armadillo.
6. How did the Enemy in the form of the serpent exhibit craftiness to beguile/charm Eve?
a) Who did the Enemy target for this temptation? He targeted Eve rather than Adam. Why? Read Genesis 2:15-17. When did God give the commandment not to eat from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? Before or after God had created Eve? Before. Eve probably received the commandment from Adam. In Eve’s response to the serpent’s initial question, she added a couple of words to God’s commandment. What was it? “or touch.” God did not say “or touch”. It was probably Adam. He probably added “or touch” to keep Eve from eating the fruit. Eve received God’s commandment concerning the tree as second hand information which does not have the same authority as first hand information. Knowing this, the Enemy was shrewd enough to realize he would have a greater chance of success by directing his temptation at Eve rather than Adam.
b) The Enemy laid a snare by invoking God’s name and using God’s words. For what purpose? To make his words enticing; a subtle/understated move to get Eve’s attention. To get her to focus on his, the serpent’s, words. It is a common tactic of Satan to use God’s Word to tempt people. Can anyone here quote Psalm 91:11-12? Satan knows it. He used it in order to tempt Jesus to sin. Read Matthew 4:5-6. Satan can quote Scripture better than most Christians. He knows every word in the Bible. Satan uses this knowledge to tempt people to disobey God, to question God, to doubt God, to create a false portrayal of God. ex. Family Radio – Judgment Day is May 21, 2011. Back their belief with Scripture. They quote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Zephaniah, Amos, Ecclesiastes, and just about every NT book to support their belief that Judgment Day is May, 21, 2011. Consequences – Deception, confusion, ridicule, and when May 21 comes and goes and no Judgment Day, disillusion. Satan is using Family Radio, like he did the serpent, to destroy/undermine God’s work on earth.
c) How did the discussion between Eve and the serpent begin? Genesis 3:1. The Enemy did not make a statement; rather, he asked a question. For what purposes? 1) To instill doubt in Eve’s heart and mind. Did God really say ….? Did you hear Him correctly? Are you sure He didn’t say? 2) To elicit a response from Eve. To initiate a dialogue … to encourage a dialogue between him and Eve.
d) What was the focal point of the question? The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. For what purpose? Placed Eve’s thoughts on the source of the temptation – the Tree.
Once Eve entered into a dialogue with the Enemy, she was well on her way down the road to sin. Eve had one foot in the snare. Her attention was now on the tree.
7. Read verse 4. How did the serpent make the temptation appealing to Eve? True God doesn’t want you to eat the fruit, but not for the reasons he told you. You’re not going to die. Real reason - to keep you from being like Him, a god. What is a god? The Supreme authority over everything. Someone to be worshipped and obeyed. A god gives commandments telling you what you can do and what you can’t do. Genesis 2:15-17. A god defines what is right and what is wrong. What the serpent was telling Eve … like God, you will have the authority to determine what is good and what is evil. You can make commandments. You will tell others what is right and what is wrong. God’s motive for denying you the fruit from the Tree is not pure. In fact, it is selfish. He wants to be the one and only god. God is intentionally denying you and Adam the opportunity to improve your position on the organizational chart of Creation. Satan speaking from experience. He desired to be like God. Isaiah 14:12-14.
8. Instead of turning away from the serpent and the tree, what did Eve do? She stared intently at the fruit on the tree and began to think/ponder on the serpent’s words. “Be like God, be like God, be like God …” Eve exercised her free will and made a choice. She reached up, grabbed one of the fruit, and ate. The longer you dwell on temptation, the more susceptible you to fall prey to it. She gave one to Adam and he ate.
9. Who has been silent during this whole conversation between the serpent and the woman? 1) Adam. From what we gather from the Scriptures, Adam was present for the serpent and Eve’s conversation but he chose to remain silent. Not once did he intervene to prevent Eve from talking with and listening to the serpent. Makes one wonder why he did not. Ultimately, the idea of being a god appealed to the man and consequently he exercised free will and made the choice to disobey God. 2) God was silent. He did not intervene. Left it up to man and woman to make their choice. He wanted them to freely choose between obeying or disobeying His commandment.
10. When did temptation become sin for Adam and Eve? When Eve listened to the serpent, was that a sin? No. When she looked at the fruit, was that sin? No. Adam and Eve sinned when they ate the fruit in direct disobedience to God’s command.
Next Sunday - consequences
Thursday, May 5, 2011
MARRIAGE: IN THE BEGINNING …
Read Genesis 2:18-20
1. a) What did God mean when He said that it was not good for the man to be alone?
Word good in Hebrew - desirable. God said it was not desirable for the man to be alone. Not satisfactory.
b) How do you think God reached this conclusion? Was Adam really alone in the Garden? What about the beasts of the field, birds in the air, all the creeping things? What about God? God came down from heaven and walked and talked with Adam in the Garden.
Adam was created. God put him into the garden. Gave him a purpose - work the
Garden. You’re Adam working the garden. What do you see? How many lions, blue jays, cows, horses? No other being in the Garden like him.
There was God … Granted the man was created in God’s image, but were he and God equals? God - omnipotent, omniscience, omnipresent. Man - limited power, limited knowledge, limited in space/time. Because of these disparities, the man and God did not relate to one another on the same level. God did not create another god; he created a man. Conclusion - There was nothing or no one like the man in all Creation. He was alone. God recognized this fact. He recognized a need in the man that the animals of the earth could not meet (see verse 19 and 20)and that He, God, could not meet. Again the two are not equals. This need could only be met by a being similar to the man. Therefore, when God said that it was not good for man to be alone…. He was saying that man needed -
A companion - someone similar to the man who could relate to him - emotionally,
physically, spiritually, intellectually. A companion who could relate to the man’s
needs, desires, ideas, beliefs. With whom he could share his accomplishments and
failures. Someone he could talk to, cry with, laugh with, bounce ideas off of, play
with, have fun with, etc.
2. a)How did God say He would meet the man’s need for companionship? I will make a helper fit/suitable for Him.
A) Helper – b) Define helper (aid, ally, support) - Help with what? Working the garden.
c) What is the companion not to be? Not a slave, not an employee, not someone to give orders to from behind the desk or from the couch. The companion will be an aid, an ally, a partner who would assist the man in his labors.
B) Fit/Suitable - literal translation of the word is corresponding to. Amplified Translation uses the word complementary
d) Define complementary - mutually supplying what each other lacks in order to make complete. What does that tell you about the helper? Similar but not exactly alike. Some differences.
e) Why did God choose to make for the man a helper who was not exactly like him? Why did he create woman - similarities & differences (physically, emotionally, etc.)? Why didn’t he create another Adam - an exact copy? How long would you be able to live with someone who is exactly like you? Also, there was this little matter of procreation. The differences that God created between man and woman … what purpose did they serve? Promote unity or division in their relationship? Hinder man’s work or promote man’s work? What the man lacked (physically, emotionally, etc.) the woman supplied and vice-versa. The two complemented one another. Enabled them to carry out the common purposes God gave them. After God created woman, He gave the couple an additional responsibility. A) Work the Garden (subdue the earth) B) Be fruitful and multiply.
God created woman for the man to be: a companion and a helper in fulfilling a purpose given to both by God. In doing so, God created the institution of marriage - a) A man and a woman brought together by God (see later) b) who are companions/friends, c) who help one another. d) complement one another. e) reason for being brought together - to fulfill God-given purposes.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
Husbands:
1) Do you view your wife as your closest companion?
2) Do you view your wife as your helper/ally/aid?
3) Do you complement your wife? Give examples
Ask yourself, God, and your wife these questions.
Wives:
1) Do you view your husband as your closest companion?
2) Are you a helper/aid/ally to your husband?
3) Do you complement your husband? Give examples.
Ask yourself, God, and your husband these questions.
Husband and wife:
Do you know what your God-given purpose(s) is/are as a couple?
Ask each other. Pray and ask God.
Read Genesis 2:21-24
Background: God brought animals to man.
3. How did God create woman? From the rib of the man. Not from clay or some other method.
4. In verse 23, how did Adam describe his new companion? Finally! Some who is like me. Someone who was made from me.
5. What does author of Genesis say in verse 24 concerning the nature of the man/husband and woman/wife relationship? God established the institution of marriage. Man shall leave the home of his parents and establish a new home with his wife. Write answers on board. Cleaved/joined together/hold fast - Hebrew - to be united, hold fast, cling to, to be joined fast & the two will become one flesh.
6. After reading the method God used to create the woman, Adam’s description of woman and the author of Genesis’ commentary in verse 24, how does Scripture characterize the nature of the husband and wife relationship?
By creating woman from the rib of man, God established the nature of the man’s relationship with the woman. He established the nature of the husband’s relationship with the wife. They are not two separate beings. They are one being. One body.
Adam recognized this. Basically told the woman - you are me and I am you.
Author of Genesis - Man will cleave unto his wife and the two become one flesh. Nerves connected.
7. Why are the man/husband and the woman/wife “one flesh”? What is God’s purpose from establishing such a relationship between the husband and wife? To strengthen the bond of companionship and to make it easier for the spouses to be “helpers”. God said it was not good for man to be alone. And He ensured that man would not be alone by creating woman the way He did. How?
a) When the wife feels pain, what should the husband feel? When the husband feels joy, what should the wife feel? When the wife is stressed, what should the husband feel? When the husband feels depressed, what should the wife feel? Why? So that that one can help/aid/support the other through the difficult times … share in the excitement/joy of the other’s accomplishments/successes. Result, the body (man & woman) is strong.
b) Man would not hate/despise his wife. Would not embarrass his wife. Would not belittle, mock, humiliate, denigrate his wife, why? Hate/despise himself. Instead he would do what? Encourage, cherish, praise, embolden, love his wife. Why? He would be doing those things to himself. Read Ephesians 5:28-29.
c) When the husband is away for a long period of time, what does the wife feel? A part of her is missing.
8. How did the man and the woman meet? God brought the woman to the man. He didn’t have to search for her. She didn’t show up out of nowhere. She was a gift from God. How do you treat a gift?
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Are you and your spouse “one flesh”? Do you respond to one another as “one flesh”? Do you feel what the other is feeling (physically, emotionally, spiritually)? Do you treat your spouse (physically, verbally, emotionally) as you treat yourself? If not, talk to one another about what you are experiencing. Seek Christian counseling.
2. Do you view your spouse as a gift from God? Do you treat your spouse as if he/she were a gift from God?
1. a) What did God mean when He said that it was not good for the man to be alone?
Word good in Hebrew - desirable. God said it was not desirable for the man to be alone. Not satisfactory.
b) How do you think God reached this conclusion? Was Adam really alone in the Garden? What about the beasts of the field, birds in the air, all the creeping things? What about God? God came down from heaven and walked and talked with Adam in the Garden.
Adam was created. God put him into the garden. Gave him a purpose - work the
Garden. You’re Adam working the garden. What do you see? How many lions, blue jays, cows, horses? No other being in the Garden like him.
There was God … Granted the man was created in God’s image, but were he and God equals? God - omnipotent, omniscience, omnipresent. Man - limited power, limited knowledge, limited in space/time. Because of these disparities, the man and God did not relate to one another on the same level. God did not create another god; he created a man. Conclusion - There was nothing or no one like the man in all Creation. He was alone. God recognized this fact. He recognized a need in the man that the animals of the earth could not meet (see verse 19 and 20)and that He, God, could not meet. Again the two are not equals. This need could only be met by a being similar to the man. Therefore, when God said that it was not good for man to be alone…. He was saying that man needed -
A companion - someone similar to the man who could relate to him - emotionally,
physically, spiritually, intellectually. A companion who could relate to the man’s
needs, desires, ideas, beliefs. With whom he could share his accomplishments and
failures. Someone he could talk to, cry with, laugh with, bounce ideas off of, play
with, have fun with, etc.
2. a)How did God say He would meet the man’s need for companionship? I will make a helper fit/suitable for Him.
A) Helper – b) Define helper (aid, ally, support) - Help with what? Working the garden.
c) What is the companion not to be? Not a slave, not an employee, not someone to give orders to from behind the desk or from the couch. The companion will be an aid, an ally, a partner who would assist the man in his labors.
B) Fit/Suitable - literal translation of the word is corresponding to. Amplified Translation uses the word complementary
d) Define complementary - mutually supplying what each other lacks in order to make complete. What does that tell you about the helper? Similar but not exactly alike. Some differences.
e) Why did God choose to make for the man a helper who was not exactly like him? Why did he create woman - similarities & differences (physically, emotionally, etc.)? Why didn’t he create another Adam - an exact copy? How long would you be able to live with someone who is exactly like you? Also, there was this little matter of procreation. The differences that God created between man and woman … what purpose did they serve? Promote unity or division in their relationship? Hinder man’s work or promote man’s work? What the man lacked (physically, emotionally, etc.) the woman supplied and vice-versa. The two complemented one another. Enabled them to carry out the common purposes God gave them. After God created woman, He gave the couple an additional responsibility. A) Work the Garden (subdue the earth) B) Be fruitful and multiply.
God created woman for the man to be: a companion and a helper in fulfilling a purpose given to both by God. In doing so, God created the institution of marriage - a) A man and a woman brought together by God (see later) b) who are companions/friends, c) who help one another. d) complement one another. e) reason for being brought together - to fulfill God-given purposes.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
Husbands:
1) Do you view your wife as your closest companion?
2) Do you view your wife as your helper/ally/aid?
3) Do you complement your wife? Give examples
Ask yourself, God, and your wife these questions.
Wives:
1) Do you view your husband as your closest companion?
2) Are you a helper/aid/ally to your husband?
3) Do you complement your husband? Give examples.
Ask yourself, God, and your husband these questions.
Husband and wife:
Do you know what your God-given purpose(s) is/are as a couple?
Ask each other. Pray and ask God.
Read Genesis 2:21-24
Background: God brought animals to man.
3. How did God create woman? From the rib of the man. Not from clay or some other method.
4. In verse 23, how did Adam describe his new companion? Finally! Some who is like me. Someone who was made from me.
5. What does author of Genesis say in verse 24 concerning the nature of the man/husband and woman/wife relationship? God established the institution of marriage. Man shall leave the home of his parents and establish a new home with his wife. Write answers on board. Cleaved/joined together/hold fast - Hebrew - to be united, hold fast, cling to, to be joined fast & the two will become one flesh.
6. After reading the method God used to create the woman, Adam’s description of woman and the author of Genesis’ commentary in verse 24, how does Scripture characterize the nature of the husband and wife relationship?
By creating woman from the rib of man, God established the nature of the man’s relationship with the woman. He established the nature of the husband’s relationship with the wife. They are not two separate beings. They are one being. One body.
Adam recognized this. Basically told the woman - you are me and I am you.
Author of Genesis - Man will cleave unto his wife and the two become one flesh. Nerves connected.
7. Why are the man/husband and the woman/wife “one flesh”? What is God’s purpose from establishing such a relationship between the husband and wife? To strengthen the bond of companionship and to make it easier for the spouses to be “helpers”. God said it was not good for man to be alone. And He ensured that man would not be alone by creating woman the way He did. How?
a) When the wife feels pain, what should the husband feel? When the husband feels joy, what should the wife feel? When the wife is stressed, what should the husband feel? When the husband feels depressed, what should the wife feel? Why? So that that one can help/aid/support the other through the difficult times … share in the excitement/joy of the other’s accomplishments/successes. Result, the body (man & woman) is strong.
b) Man would not hate/despise his wife. Would not embarrass his wife. Would not belittle, mock, humiliate, denigrate his wife, why? Hate/despise himself. Instead he would do what? Encourage, cherish, praise, embolden, love his wife. Why? He would be doing those things to himself. Read Ephesians 5:28-29.
c) When the husband is away for a long period of time, what does the wife feel? A part of her is missing.
8. How did the man and the woman meet? God brought the woman to the man. He didn’t have to search for her. She didn’t show up out of nowhere. She was a gift from God. How do you treat a gift?
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Are you and your spouse “one flesh”? Do you respond to one another as “one flesh”? Do you feel what the other is feeling (physically, emotionally, spiritually)? Do you treat your spouse (physically, verbally, emotionally) as you treat yourself? If not, talk to one another about what you are experiencing. Seek Christian counseling.
2. Do you view your spouse as a gift from God? Do you treat your spouse as if he/she were a gift from God?
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