A Special Place

A Special Place

Genesis 2: ⁸ The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. ⁹ And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

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GOD continues giving Moses a recap of creation. HE explained that after HE created the container that would hold the universe, stars, sun, moon, sky, water and earth. HE created birds, fish, animals, insects and good bacteria. HE then created man and breathed a special breath in HIM which gave him a soul. Everything was very good! BUT GOD did something special. HE planted a garden that was more beautiful that other places.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made a special place even more special.
• GOD planted two extremely special trees, one giving life and one providing the knowledge of good and evil.
• GOD seemed excited about “being” with HIS creation, so HE made things that would be “pleasant.”

 

It seemed like GOD wanted a special relationship with humans. HE made so much for us and was very pleased with HIS creation. When HE placed the trees in the garden, it seemed like it was HIS way of showing the HE would be there with us. I can see the extreme lengths GOD went through to have harmony with us.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD made a special garden for humans?
• Have you ever wondered if you were special to GOD?
• Can you start with a thought that you are special to GOD so you can see more in yourself and others today?

Breath of Life

Breath of Life

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 being.

 

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GOD, in HIS recap of the beginning of humanity, describes how he made the first man to Moses. GOD took the complex minerals and formed the first human. It was lifeless until HE breathed into the sculpture.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made humans special.
• GOD took time to fashion the first human.
• GOD spoke other things into existence, but humans received HIS breath of life.

 

No other creature received the breath of life. GOD wanted humans to be a special creation and gave a soul to us. All the autonomous systems inside humans were functioning. The brain was able to produce and receive thoughts.

 

When GOD breathed the breath of life into man, he made him pure. There was no sin in the breath.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD gave Moses this recap of what HE made the first man out of?
• Why do you think GOD did not breathe into any other living thing?
• Have you considered that GOD created you special to HIM and wants the best for you?

Tame Planet

Tame Planet

Genesis 2: ⁴ This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, ⁵ before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; ⁶ but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

 

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This seems to be the beginning of the explanation of what happened during the creation. Volumes of books can be written on “why” something was made the way it was made. BUT GOD reveals only what is necessary. I noticed HE explains rain was made, but was not necessary because a mist would water all vegetation.

 

My Observations:

GOD made a place for humans to live that could take care of itself.

GOD made it easy for anything to grow that a human would ever want.

GOD made the earth available for humans to participate in creating by providing the materials of life.

 

What stuck out to me was “”For the LORD GOD had not caused it to rain on the earth.” GOD took time to create rain, but it was not necessary, yet. Before any vegetation was available, GOD made water available so it could flourish in abundance with no effort. Humans had it made.

 

Challenge

Why do you think GOD told Moses about rain if it was not necessary?

Have you ever watched vegetation grow in fascination?

How is GOD setting you up for success?

Humans Day 7

Humans Day 7

Genesis 2: Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. ² And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

 

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GOD had created water, light, day, night, outer space, stars, sky, air, vegetation, dry land, minerals, birds, fish, animals, insects, good bacteria and humans. HE said it was “very good.” HE then did something strange. HE took time to purposefully rest. HE set this day apart as special by blessing the day.

 

My Observations:

• GOD, with HIS infinite power, took time to rest.
• GOD deliberately ended HIS work of creation for humans after the sixth rotation of the earth.
• GOD demonstrated to humans that rest is important.

 

Finishing the work was important, but resting seemed just as important to GOD. HE does not sleep or slumber. HE never gets tired and never runs out of energy. But we do. HE made humans with limitations. We need to eat and rest to survive. As important as creating the universe was, GOD saw it fitting to turn it off for a day.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD, who does not need sleep, tell Moses HE rested?
• Have you ever thought that you should work seven days a week?
• Will you consider intentionally resting from all work to take time to listen to GOD for a full day?

Humans Day 6

Humans Day 6

Genesis 1: ²⁴ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

 

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

 

²⁹ And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. ³⁰ Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. ³¹ Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

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Five rotations of the earth had now taken place. GOD had created water, light, day, night, outer space, stars, sky, air, vegetation, dry land, minerals, birds and fish. Dry land was now ready for inhabitants. GOD used the earth to create animals, insects and useful bacteria. BUT GOD said something special when it came to humanity. “Let US make man in  OUR image.” HE created male and female.

 

My Observations:

• GOD prepared everything to give it to humans.
• GOD created animals, insects and every creeping thing from the earth.
• GOD created humans, male and female, in HIS likeness and afterwards, looked at “everything” HE made and “indeed it was very good.”

 

Perfect peace had been created. HE created humans with harmony. It was perfect! HE had a relationship with HIS creation and had provided plenty to eat and plenty to do. GOD was excited about HIS creation and gave humans dominion over all HE made in the six days.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses that HE HIS creation was  “very good?”
• Can you hear the excitement GOD had to make HIS creation?
• Have you considered that when you were made, GOD said “very good” about you?

Humans Day 5

Humans Day 5

Genesis 1: ²⁰ Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” ²¹ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

 

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Water, light, day, night, outer space, stars, sky, air, vegetation, dry land, and minerals were all in place and working well. The Earth was rotating properly and had made four revolutions. GOD then spoke fish and birds into existence. HE then provides the very first blessing by saying “Be fruitful and multiply.”  This blessing enabled species of all kinds of birds and fish to fill the waters and the air.

 

My Observations:

• GOD cares about the details of every fish and bird.
• GOD speaks to every living creature.
• GOD is excited about abundance for HIS creation.

 

Abundance sticks out to me when I see GOD creating the birds and fish. Not only did HE create plenty, HE created the ability for each species to have plenty. The math HE gave the birds and fish was multiplication versus addition. HE was very pleased that the birds and fish would be delightful for humans.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the first blessing?
• What is your idea of abundance compared to GOD’s idea of abundance?
• Have you ever noticed that GOD did not create money during this week of creation, rather HE built a space HE knew was fitting for humans?

Humans Day 4

Humans Day 4

Genesis 1: ¹⁴ Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; ¹⁵ and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. ¹⁶ Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. ¹⁷ God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, ¹⁸ and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

 

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Instead of random events, GOD made everything with a purpose. On the first day, HE made light. Now on the fourth day, HE took a piece of light and made the sun. HE also made its qualities reflective off of the moon. HE took more pieces of light and made stars. Each star was hung in a specific place and could only be seen at certain times of the year.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made years and seasons specifically for humans.
• GOD made light to “rule” over darkness.
• GOD demonstrated the creative process by breaking up light into many purposes.

 

I am quite amazed that every star, every galaxy, every light that can be seen was made specifically to shine on the place GOD made for humans. This is a very loving action from GOD. HE set the stars in the heavens, or outer space, for the enjoyment of humans, yet to be created.

 

I can also see that GOD delights in the creative process. HE took light and made stars, reflection, refraction, color, energy, healing and warmth. HE did this all for you and me.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD gives this level of detail to Moses about light and darkness?
• What areas of your life do you think are hidden?
• Are you willing to surrender hidden things to GOD so HIS light will heal you and shine through you today?