Adam. Gen. 2.
In reading this chapter you will notice that God’s name, from the fourth verse, is changed to the Lord God. That is His name in relationship with man.
What is told us in this chapter is not a different account of the creation, but fuller details of what was done on the sixth day.
When God made man, it was from the dust of the ground; but the form was still lifeless, till God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. How different from the brute creation. God spoke and they came into being; but man is called the offspring of God, read Acts 17:2929Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. (Acts 17:29). Creation made us the offspring of God, but redemption puts us in the place of children of God.
The Lord God planted a garden of delights, for in it was every tree pleasant to look at and good for food. Also the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
There Adam was placed to dress and keep it. The only reserve put upon him was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if he ate of this he would surely die. That was asking him only to be in dependence on his Maker. And the Lord God said: “It is not good that the man should be alone.”
All the animals were brought to Adam to get their names; but among them all there was not one fitted for hire for a companion or helpmeet. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to come upon Adam. And He took a rib from Adam and formed the woman, When Adam saw her he said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” So she was called woman, because she was taken out of man. So Adam was a figure of Christ, who is set over all things, and in His wonderful grace He has taken up sinners, not only to save them from eternal torment, but to be the chosen companion of Himself.
Yes, dear children, if we are trusting Christ Jesus we are close to Christ; but before He could bring us to be thus united to Him, He had to go into that deep sleep of death upon the cross, as forsaken of God for our sins.
The work is finished, and now we are united by the spirit to Christ, risen and glorified, if we are believers in Him. We are so closely united to Him, that if anything hurts us here, He feels it there on the throne, as He said to persecuting Saul: “Why persecuteth thou Me?” Acts 9:44And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4).
So now we belong to Him and the place where He is, — that is heaven—and we are on our way to meet Him, who has won our hearts. Whom having not seen, we love; in whom, though now we see Him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
“Since Christ and we are one,
What room for doubt or fear?
He sits upon the Father’s throne,
And we are in Him there.
The Spirit doth unite
Our souls to Him, our head,
And forms us to his image bright,
While in His steps we tread.
And grace, it is—free grace—
Which keeps us on the road,
Till we behold our Saviour’s face,
And city of our God.”
ML 11/18/1900