Background:

Genesis 2:15-25 provides a detailed look at God’s creation of humanity and the institution of marriage. This passage sets foundational principles for human purpose, relationships, and God’s design for marriage, highlighting the depth and intention behind God’s creation of man and woman.

Key Themes:

• Human Responsibility: Humanity’s role as caretakers of creation.
• Boundaries and Obedience: The command about the tree introduces free will and moral choice.
• Companionship and Relationship: The importance of community and marriage.
• Marriage as God’s Design: Unity and equality in the marriage relationship.
• Innocence: The purity of humanity’s relationship with God and each other before sin.

How to Identify the Scheme of Evil:

• God’s Plan vs. My Pleasure: Genesis 2:15 – “So the Lord God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.” God’s plan is for us to care for what He has entrusted to us, while the evil one tempts us to ignore this purpose and pursue only our own pleasure, disregarding God’s commandments.
• God’s Rules vs. My Freedom: Genesis 2:17 – “But [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat; otherwise, on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience].” God commands Adam to eat freely from every tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This boundary teaches Adam obedience, free will, and moral responsibility. The evil one, however, entices us to reject these boundaries in pursuit of unlimited personal freedom.
• God’s View vs. My Independence: Genesis 2:18 – “Now the Lord God said, ‘It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] suitable and complementary for him.'” God recognizes Adam’s need for companionship, marking the importance of relationships and community. The evil one encourages us to be self-centered and overly focused on independence, undermining the value of connection and unity.
• God’s Choice vs. My Choice: Genesis 2:20 – “And the man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper [that was] suitable (a companion) for him.” As Adam names the animals, he realizes his own uniqueness and need for companionship. God knows it’s not good for man to be alone, creating woman as his perfect complement. The evil one, however, seeks to disrupt unity, causing division in relationships and pushing us toward unhealthy or unequal bonds.
• God’s Institution vs. My Definition: Genesis 2:24 – “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse lays the foundation for marriage, a sacred institution created by God, joining man and woman as one. The evil one tries to redefine marriage according to worldly views, detracting from its divine purpose.
• God’s Prompt vs. My View: Genesis 2:25 – “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed or embarrassed.” This symbolizes the purity and innocence in their relationship before sin entered the world. The evil one aims to strip away our awareness of sin, leading us to live without shame or accountability when we stray from God’s path.