Day 2: God Created The Garden

Today we read Genesis 2 where God created a special place - the Garden of Eden. Here, God appointed Adam and Eve into a special relationship with Him where He walks and talks with them. Adam is "Ish," Hebrew for physical strength and he is called to work and care for creation and to name the animals. Eve is "Isha", Hebrew for physical reflection and less strong yet she is called by God to be Adam's Ezer, Hebrew for rescuer, warrior, or protector. This word was only ever used to describe God or Israel in support of His people. A "helper" was someone with the power to aid the person in need of help. So cool! Men and women have unique patterned gifts to interdependently lead and serve in God's Kingdom. In this special place and special relationship with God, He offers eternal life with the Tree of Life and moral accountability. Here God also gives one rule, do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge.  In Genesis 2, it is the first time we here Adam speak and he speaks vows to God and Eve, they become "one flesh."  Resources: Dr. Carmen Imes (2022). Helper: You Keep Using That Word for Women. But it doesn’t mean what you think it means. Christianity Today. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/august-web-only/womens-rights-leadership-old-testament-using-word-helper.html  Dr. Tim Mackie and The Bible Project, https://bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/adam-noah/  Dr. John Walton and his book The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate Dr. N.T. Wright, The Book of Genesis, The Beginning of the Beginnings Credits: Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.