TIMING: No historical chronological corroboration available. REASON TO READ: This is the beginning of God’s relationship with man. If we understand how God “meant it to be” in its simplest form, then we can begin to see how He can steer our lives to resemble the paradise that God created for Adam and Eve to enjoy. BRIEF SUMMARY: God creates the world and puts Adam in the garden of Eden with Eve as his helpmate. They are allowed to eat of any tree in the garden except one, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve is deceived by the serpent and convinced to eat of the tree. She convinces Adam to do the same, and they become aware of their nakedness. They cover themselves in fig leaves, but God performs the first sacrifice and covers them with animal skins. They are kicked out of Eden and two cherubim with flaming swords are put at the gate to prevent them from going back in. HOW THIS FITS IN THE TOP TEN: To a certain extent we may take for granted the significance of God first creating then seeking a relationship with human beings. God could have very easily created us to be like earthly angels whose role is to serve God rather than creating us in his image and inviting us to become his children. We can discuss later what it truly means to be in God’s image and likeness, but for now let us simply see that we have a unique relationship with God...

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Many times we feel that God's commandment is too hard or too unreasonable.  However this is usually because we don't understand the heart of the commandment or don't realize that God put His commandment in place because He loves us. This was the case with Eve.  She felt that God's commandment was unreasonable.  When the serpent asked her about God's commandment, her choice of words gave away what was in her heart.  She explained to the serpent that "God said, 'You shall not eat from it, nor shall you touch it...'" (Gen 3:3)  She was talking of course about the fruit of the tree of learning the knowledge of good and evil.  However God's commandment wasn't that she can't eat it or touch it.  God's commandment in Genesis 2:17 is "... from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat..."  God told Adam that he may not eat of it, however Eve added the part where she may not eat of it nor touch it.  This extra unreasonable request added by Eve shows what she thought of God's commandment.  She thought that it was unreasonable, or too harsh.  Perhaps she didn't understand why. This however happens with us too.  We sometimes read God's commandment and think that it's unreasonable, or too harsh. What we don't realize is that God put these commandments in place in order for us to live a ha...

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Everything God created was Good.  In Genesis 1 it says multiple times that "God saw that it was good".  It wasn't until later in chapter 2 when God said "It is not good..."  This was in verse 18 when He said "It is not good for man to be alone.  I will make him a helper comparable to him."  Here a question comes: did God create something that is not good?  Did God create something that is lacking?  Was Eve an afterthought?  Or a patch?  Something to fill a gap?  Did God in his foreknowledge not know that "It is not good for man to be alone..."?  Certainly not! God knew from the beginning.  God had this plan all along.  Earlier in the first chapter we read "So God made man; in the image of God He made him; male and female He made them."  (Genesis 1:27)  This was always in God's plan.  Also, the very next verse reads "Then God blessed them; and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply...'" (Genesis 1:28)  How can God command man to multiply without providing him with a woman?  It must be that God had Eve planned from the very beginning, but He intentionally delayed her creation just a little bit. The next question is why didn't God create Adam and Eve together at the same time?  Perhaps one reason for the delay is to show Adam how much he needed Eve.  He wanted ...

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