Start each day by reading the passages listed above. Then use the summary and reflection provided here to guide discussion around the daily reading.
Adam and Eve were the first humans, created in God’s image. Placed in God’s perfect creation, they were called to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth.
Reflect on how Adam and Eve interact with God and their relationships with Him. What stands out to you about their interactions with God?
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75 thoughts on "The First Image-Bearers"
That God saw purpose in making Adam a partner. Although he knew what would happen with Eve, everyday God gives us a choice and after Adam and Eve a choice of redemption. All the praise be to him!
Amen
God was so detailed oriented with how he made everything. You can see how much he cares about people from the very beginning.
God is good!
I would say curious and naïve. Immature. Rules by flesh.
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the things that made Adam and Eve stand out was that Adam was taken apart to be able to create Eve and the reason that happened was because of God, without God Adam would have never had Eve in his life.
God gave them all these things to enjoy!
There weren’t any questions from Adam or Eve until after the fall. I imagine they just went about peacefully doing their work in worship until the snake came along.
Amen
Verse 26: create: In OUR image… already we have confirmation of the Triune God! Amen!
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Adam truly partnered with God…to name the animals. Teamwork from the start! God allowed Adam to explore his own creativity in this process, it’s beautiful to think about that!
Can anyone tell me why the devotions have a different format this study?
Walking with God- so beautiful ❤️
God had an intimate relationship with Adam and Eve. He formed Adam and breathed life into him. He was sensitive to Adams needs, seeing it wasn’t good for him to be alone. So he provided a woman for him as a helpmate.
God knows our needs, and he provides in his timing! God shapes us and forms us so we can be more like Him!
@Adrianne love your comment about having the potential of everything thanks to our Savior. What a cool thing to remember
This time around, reading the creation story, I notice that they were “naked yet not ashamed.” Shame was not a concept because there was no sin. Another thing I think of is that they were so close to God, abiding in Him. I’ve heard it said that the word enthusiasm, at its root, means “one with God.” When we are abiding in Him, we are passionate and enthusiastic for life.
Checking in….I am reading another Devo as I do not like this format. I will be popping in to check on everyone. Blessings SRT Ladies ♥️
Sharon, Jersey Girl that is so amazing thank you for sharing!
Kristi McClelland has a great teaching about the meaning of “Ezer” (helper) that is so beautiful. I encourage you to listen. It’s on YouTube – “ezer kenegdo”
Descriptive vs prescriptive From Got Questions: “ When studying the Bible, it is important to determine whether the verse or passage at hand is descriptive or prescriptive. The difference is this: a passage is descriptive if it is simply describing something that happened, while a passage is prescriptive if it is specifically teaching that something should happen. Simply put, is it a description or a command? Is the passage describing something (it happened) or is it prescribing something (it should happen)? The difference is important. “
Hello all! Can someone explain the difference between “descriptive” and “prescriptive” in regards to the biblical narrative? (Found in page 28)
It really shows just how generous our God is. He gave Adam and Eve everything they needed. I think it’s interesting that this is how humanity started, with the gift of everything if they just obeyed God’s rules. We still have the potential of everything thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus, but Adam and Eve had everything and they still had to fall for the start of our redemption.
I didn’t realize that! But so good to know
Adrienne
Thanks for the link of the “generations”to the study of Jesus. This really tied the entire beginning of the study together for me. It brought me back to the beginning on the first people of the generation, Adam and Eve. All God wanted them to do is to Love and Obey him. That is exactly what he still wants us to do today. It is a foreshadow of what we should and should not be doing in our relationship with him.
Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing.
Very well said! Amen!
I am reading today from my ESV study Bible. (We read this at church just this week, so I knew it was coming.). Genesis 2:4 says, “These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” Other versions say this is the “account”. I am more familiar with that word in this part of Genesis. (I had to go to the ESV to see the notes for this. The word “generations” is a literary device to announce the stages to come.) I thought this was interesting as this study is on the lineage of Jesus, and we read so much yesterday, in particular, on the generations that led to His birth.
Have a blessed day today, sweet sisters.
You may have noticed that God told Adam to take care of the garden and the animals. Work was part of the plan, not part of the curse. People these days think work is a curse, but we were meant to be productive members of society. Work gives meaning to our lives, and actually makes us feel good about ourselves. So, if you have kids who don’t want to work, just let them know God intended for them to be productive!!
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.” – Genesis 2:18. I found it interesting from the very beginning we are formed to be communal people. We were not meant to be alone. God wants his people and land to live in harmony, taking care of one another.
They had this relationship with God where all they had to do was love and trust in him. There was no do this do that but something so simple. He call us all to do that but we struggle so bad just like they did. Everything come from God at the right time. Don’t make the mistake of trying to be God.
And God said it was good. ♥️
God as a Good father and provided for our every need. He blessed Adam and Eve and gave them authority over His creation. Initially, I imagine Him as a proud father watching over His children. Adam and Eve received God’s blessings.
Theresa praying for your husband’s passport situation. Michelle Patire Amen❤️ Foster Mama praying for your situation. Karrie you can forgive. It is not easy and doesn’t happen over nite. Is there someone that you trust who you can talk to.
I guess what stood out to me is that all Adam and Eve had to do was show up and be loved by God. They did absolutely nothing to earn it.
God made man and woman in His very own image – He entrusted us to be stewards of this earth. For those who are called to be married, He intended for us to work together with beautiful purpose and unity. Unfortunately, many of us have come a long way from His intention for us because of sin. Husbands and wives often fight against each other, trying to control or manipulate one another rather than working together under God’s leadership. So often couples get into a cycle of hurt and resentment where they try to tear each other down rather than building each other up. Been there done that! Here’s the beautiful thing that stood out to me about God’s relationship with Adam and Eve in the garden – He provided everything they needed – trees and plants for food, rivers to nourish the plants, etc.) and when we put God first, even before our families, and obey Him, then He lovingly guides us towards life and away from evil, and provides everything we need to flourish in our marriages as well – He fills us with love, respect, unity, grace, humility, consideration, unselfish motives, pure hearts that comes from our connection with Him. He is our provider for our marriages to flourish. Lord, help us to go to You to be filled up, so we have something to give to each other. Help us to be good stewards of what You have entrusted to us, including our marriages and other relationships, to work together and not against each other! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
They had an intimate relationship with the Lord, no holds bar on anything. They spent every evening with God face to face! Can you imagine? That would be so amazing!! But we can, through and because of Jesus! Hallelujah!!
Sharon – Jersey Girl, I loved the sharing of the word “helper” in Hebrew. It moved me to share with my daughter and daughter-in-law, both beautiful “ezers”. Thank you.
To be shameless and in the garden with God…how awesome. Even as christians we struggle to be Christ like. We worship God, read His word, and turn around and sin. It would be so nice to be alone with God in the garden!
Rachel, thank you for sharing your insight! So good. Thank you, Michelle for reminding me of the longing in my heart of what we will attain in eternity of a relationship with no sin in the way.
Years ago my daughter who was a budding artist in middle school drew a pic of Eve,complete with the apple and serpent. I was reading Stacy Eldridge book, Captive, at the time. I shared my new deeper understanding of Eve’s relationship with God before sin with her and asked her to draw a pic of Eve before the serpent. Wow ! It was pretty incredible. Can you imagine walking with God in the cool of the evening in the garden?
This is so good!
Man did not become a living being until God breathed the breathe of life into his nostrils. God placed Adam in the garden to work it and take care of it. God stated that it was not good for man to be alone, so he made a helper for Adam.
In today’s reading it is God who does all the talking while seemingly – Adam listens. I’m imagining that He and God had conversation, but nothing is mentioned of Adam speaking until he sees Eve. His first recorded words are of a beautiful poem to Eve, who will be his helper.
As I try to picture the whole scene, it’s easy to picture Adam listening intently to God, without letting distractions get in the way. His full attention was on the One who created him and gave him his very breathe. That same God brought to Adam someone like him. Someone to love, share with, confide in, provide for, protect and to enjoy. But also someone of strength and power. What a beautiful description of how a marriage was intended to be.
I thought this very interesting, from a website called -Hebrew word lessons” in reference to the word “helper” in Genesis 2:18… “And so God created woman to be an ezer to man. But this word, translated as helper, is not about making brunch and darning a man’s socks. This word means an ally or rescuer, someone who comes running when the people cry out for help. An ezer drops everything to save those in need… An ezer is a hero.”
I love that God created us to be His image bearers, yet such a humbling thought.
I love communicating with my adult children. I want know what they are up to and what they are up against. I long to KNOW them as the adults they have become. I believe God desire that intimate relationship with His children even more.
@Rachel– I love your insight!! I was thinking there is a significance to the dominion we had in Genesis 1 vs. the dominion that Christ has given us. We are seated with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), though we must ask the Father to perform things on His behalf (in prayer). The Lord has such a mysterious and beautiful order of things.
I love reading Genesis. I have said this before. But it’s probably my favorite thing to meditate on the story of our beginning with God. The purity that exists between God and man “adam” – it is beautiful and so simplistic. God would walk with Adam and assign him a job. The Lord would bring him animal by animal and Adam would name them out of his God-given ability to be creative.
I wrote a song that is one of repentance and desiring the wholeness of God. One of my favorite lines goes, “And I want to go back to the garden, back to where it started with you…” I think in every human heart lies the longing for this simple life. To be in Eden with the Lord. No dividing sinful flesh wall- just a heart that is pure, a body that is made whole and complete, and the Lord at our right side. It is the picture of love. I can’t help but long for it, as I return to these chapters over and over throughout my journey with the Lord. God I am so grateful you shared this story with us!! **Crying face**
I am reading over your prayer requests. We await dear Heidi’s news. @Theresa- I pray you and your husband continue to stay in prayer and trust God’s will and timing. May His will be done!!
We are created in The image of God. Every person we come in contact with is a image bearer! If we truly lived with this belief how would we treat them? I think better than we do.
Perfect communion!
Adam and Eve’s relationship with God was Father and child relationship. He provided for them and protected them.
The Holy Spirit really gut-checked me with today’s reading, as I first thought that I couldn’t get anything from re-reading these early passages in Genesis again. Instead of missing out on the joy of His word, I was floored by the parallels between Genesis 1:27-28 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. In Genesis, God tells the first “Adam”, who is made in God’s likeness and given authority over God’s creation on earth, to “be fruitful, multiple, fill the earth, and subdue it…” In Matthew, Jesus, the perfect “Adam” who is the radiance of God’s glory and the expression of His being (Hebrews 1:3), tell His disciples to be fruitful and multiply disciples of all nations and subdue the sin on earth world by teaching obedience to God. God is amazing!
God created them male and female. Complimentary, a helper “corresponding to him”. Mankind in sinfulness has sought to distort what God created as good and right. Created to be fruitful, fill the earth, subdue it and rule over the creatures. How we have failed to honor our loving, gracious Creator.
I was happy to wake up to read more than just names listed in the genealogy this morning. I know it’s important but I still struggle through it.
Thank you for your prayers @theresadonley. I’m unsure of how to forgive my dad who has passed away, I have so much anger towards him and I never got an apology ever in my life. I have anger and resentment against my younger step brother because of him too and no where to put all of it.
@searching – I’m still here!!!! I was here throughout the last study but was a few days behind everyone. Thank you for thinking of me
God created Adam for to have a relationship with him. He spoke to him and provided for his every need. He delighted in watching Adam name and care for the plants and animals he created. Oh to have such an intimate relationship with our father. To walk with him in a world with no sin.
I see that Adam and Eve listened to God and trusted God
Today it seems that many, even those that profess to be Christians are listening to many other voices.
Thank you for this study that reminds us of our relationship with God is the most important relationship in our lives.
Amen
Eve had a relationship with her Father before she was given to Adam…how awesome they each had one-on-one fellowship with God before they became one from His blessing ❤️
Thanks to all of you who are sharing comments. I was sad when I saw this study wasn’t including a devotional, but am finding many of my sisters in Christ here are sharing insights. May God bless you all.
Amen
Their relationship with God was like father and child.
An up close, personal relationship, just as we long for. Thank you, Lord, for making the way.
God created this lush, vibrant landscape and filled it with living, breathing creatures. We are to be stewards of the land, cherishing and protecting ALL living things. I look outside my window this morning and see a red-headed house finch and a blue jay at the feeder, the periwinkle swath of mountains in the distance, purple coneflowers and a rosebush lush with red roses, a stand of oak and maple trees. I am in the midst of creation, and I am so thankful for this beautiful world. I hope you all take some time this morning to step outside and take a deep breath, look up at the sky, rub a leaf beneath your fingers. He made all living things before he made us — let’s do our best to not only appreciate the world around us, but to protect it.
I love that God (the giver) gave man everything including a companion. God recognizing what we need and then giving it to us is so beautiful to read and a great reminder to me the sinner that God WILL provide all I need!
What stands out to me this morning from these readings is God’s radical provision. He cared for every last detail and then some. What a generous Father! I needed that reminder this morning; God is in the details and if it’s something I care about, He cares about it too. It doesn’t matter how insignificant it may be.
HEIDI – praying you have peace and are enjoying wherever you are right now.
FOSTER MAMA- praying for the situation with the baby in your care. Believing that God sees their whole story and is working all things together for good. Also lifting up your extended family and their situation, whatever it may be.
KATIE L- still praying for your family. I hope you’ve been able to secure an attorney.
ELLA – I hope you have been able to read all the comments written to you these past couple days. God sees you and so do we! Praying for comfort and for God to bring new friendships into your life.
My husband was able to get an appointment for his passport. It’s the Friday before he’s scheduled to leave (6/16) but the catch is it’s in Denver (we live no where near there!) It was the only appointment available in the entire US. We’re completely shocked but have moved ahead and made arrangements for him to travel to Denver to get it next week. Please continue to pray for us. We still believe that God is calling him to go to Africa but the logistics of this are stressful and exhausting not to mention placing a financial burden on our family.
I love that God and Adam were in daily communion, showing just how much God wants relationship with us as we should desire relationship with Him. God delighted in His creation of man and like a good father wanted the good things for him, companionship especially. It’s fun to imagine God bringing the animals of all sorts to Adam just for Adam to see them, and name them.
It is interesting that the close relationship God had with Adam and Eve was the plan for humanity all along, before the fall. In the garden, Adam (and Eve) talked to God directly, without intercession from anyone. After that, God only spoke directly to a selected few while the rest of humanity had to offer sacrifices in the temple to God, divided by a veil from His glory. But Jesus changed all that during the Crucifixion— in his death, our barrier to talk directly to God was removed. The veil splitting giving humanity the gift to come to the Father, one-on-one.
Just the fact that they were able to walk beside God, their Creator, and talk to Him. Able to ask Him anything, not want for anything; this is truly amazing and beautiful. And as sinful human beings, it lasted a very short period of time. They had a glimpse of Heaven.
In the beginning their hearts were pure and innocent. They walked around naked and were not ashamed. Can you even imagine that? What would it be like to have such a pure heart that you had no reason for shame?
God spoke to Adam and Eve. I’ve generally envisioned this as an audible voice. He created for them and gave them all of His creation. We know in the next section He protected them by moving them out of the garden and away from the tree of life. God acted like a father to them.
God created us in His image and deemed us good. Praying that I will remember this fact today as I encounter others in my workplace who may be labeled as “difficult” and that it would change how I see them and respond.
Imagine to be so close to God as a friend in the garden!
The title for today’s reading is called Image Bearers. This Scripture came in to my mind. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
That is convicting. Words are important, and so are thoughts. Praise God for conviction and the opportunity to take His Word seriously and repent. May He put a watch on my mouth.
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image“
Us – This stood out to me as a reminder of the eternal existence of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
And in chapter 2, the repeated usage of LORD – the English designation for YHWH, the sacred name of God.
As already mentioned, we know what’s coming after this in depth description of the beauty of what God has created and of the provisions made for of Adam and Eve and all living creatures.
Lord, we thank You and praise You for the beauty and provisions You have made for us. Show us, Lord, what we are missing that’s right in front of us, guide our focus towards You and not on the distractions & lies of the evil one.
HEINKE – praying for you, your marriage, husband and your preteen. That your husband would decide to work on rebuilding your marriage rather than move forward with divorce. Praying for you, sister.
Prayer request for someone I love dearly that got news of a health concern, that it turns out to be a false alarm.
Adam could recognize Eve as an image bearer of God.
God provided paradise and close relationship knowing they would sin. When they sinned he provided a way forward in the coming of the Messiah. God is faithful – loving His sinful creations including me. ❤️
God is doing all the work! He is providing entirely for man- a place to live, food, a job, companionship, beauty, and boundaries. It is heart-breaking knowing what comes after this chapter… man takes all that God has done for him and squanders it because he doesn’t trust God’s heart.
God breathed the breathe of life into Adam ♡♡
The Lord placed Adam and Eve in a place where they would flourish not in a wasteland where life would be a struggle.
God is the giver. This relationship isn’t give and take. Adam and Eve are just receiving everything.
God has given them purpose (v.28) and also provided everything they need.