Genesis Part 1 - Week 5

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 2:10-12 

10 A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. 11 The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 

The river flowing from the land of Eden divided into four branches. This is the only mention of Pishon in the Bible. Although these four branches are mentioned, it must be remembered that the worldwide flood that followed would rearrange all the land and rivers. It is interesting what is said about the gold found in this area.  

REFLECT 

Hold your thoughts about what is mentioned about the worldwide flood until we come to Genesis 6.  

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about having questions the Bible does not give information to answer. Because the Bible was inspired by God, He told us what we need to know and left out what we do not need to know. Basically the Bible is the story of salvation provided by God so there are many other details that need not be told.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 2:13-14 

13 The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. 14 The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates. 

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers still exist, although they may be different in looks than they were before the worldwide flood. The descendants of Noah were Shem, Ham and Japheth. One of the sons of Ham was called Cush (Genesis 10:6). One of the sons of Shem had the name of Asshur (Genesis 10:22).  

REFLECT 

One likely has many questions about what the land looked like at that time. Are you content with not knowing all the answers that would be interesting to know? 

RESPOND 

Read the Scriptures with a friend and examine Genesis 15:18. This verse records that God promised the descendants of Abram (later known as Abraham) would extend from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 2:15-17 

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” 

God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to “tend and watch over it.” This reveals there was work for Adam to do. God also gave him a warning: he could eat the fruit of all the trees “except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” It’s unsure what Adam understood about this warning because he had never seen death. He would experience both spiritual and physical death, however, if he ate of this one tree.  

REFLECT 

Have you experienced that sometimes you had liberty to enjoy other things but you wanted something you couldn’t have? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend and try to come up with examples of liberties you could have but you really wanted some restricted thing. You can likely think of examples from your childhood as well as your adulthood. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 2:18-20 

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. 

Genesis 1:26-27 tells of God creating male and female on the sixth day. Genesis 2:18-20 reveals God seeking to provide a helper for Adam. All the animals were brought before him and named, but “still there was no helper just right for him.” This reveals no helper could provide what Adam needed without it being another human. 

REFLECT 

Do you have an animal as a pet? Have you experienced that an animal provides company but is unable to provide what another human can? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the differences of the company of an animal and the company of another human being. Of course, in the context of the creation account, the topic is about a wife for Adam.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 2:21-22 

21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 

Although Genesis 1:26-27 told of the act of creating male and female, Genesis 2:21-22 tells of the process. The man was made from dust, but the woman was made from the man’s rib while he slept. Then the Lord brought her to the man. Those who believe in evolution and long ages to account for the creation of man and woman are involving more faith than those who believe in a miracle-working God.  

REFLECT 

Does the Genesis account of creation increase your faith in a miracle-working God? 

RESPOND 

Read Hebrews 11:3 about taking creation by faith. Those who believe in evolution and long ages to produce what the miracle-working God did are also exercising faith. True science does not contradict the Bible, but theories by those who don’t believe in the God of miracles do contradict the Bible.