EDEN

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 30, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 26.

Lesson III.—Sabbath, July 16, 1898.

EDEN

Lesson Scripture, Gen. 2:7-25, R. V.

7 “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads. The name of the first is Pishon; that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good; there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon; the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel; that is it which goeth in front of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18 “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an helpmeet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found an helpmeet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

QUESTIONS.

(1) Review mentally the record of creation week. (2) Out of what was man formed? How did he become a living soul? V. 7. Note 1. (3) Who planted the Garden of Eden? For whom? In what part of Eden was the garden? V. 8. (4) What kind of trees were made to grow in Paradise? V. 9. (5) How was it watered? Into how many parts was it divided? V. 10. (6) Name these four rivers. Vs. 11-14. (7) What was man’s occupation in the garden? V. 15. Note 2. (8) What freedom did man have in this Paradise? V. 16. (9) What slight prohibition did the Lord place upon Adam and Eve? What would be the consequence of disobedience? V. 17. (10) Why did the Lord make woman? Vs. 18, 20. Note 3. (11) For what purpose did the Lord bring the animals to Adam? Did Adam name them rightly? Vs. 19, 20. (12) Was there anything among the animals “answering to Adam”? V. 20. (13) Describe the making of woman. Vs. 21, 22. (14) When the Lord brought her to Adam, what did he call her, and why? V. 23. (15) When was the marriage ceremony first instituted? What relation should exist between man and wife? V. 24. Note 3. (16) In their innocency were Adam and Eve ashamed? V. 25. Note 4. (17) Of what is this lesson an expansion?

Suggestive Readings.—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” pp. 48-51. Pamphlet, “Redemption,” by Mrs. E. G. W., pp. 5-9. “Christian Education,” pp. 207, 208.

NOTES.

1. In verse 7 is the inspired record of the origin of man. He was formed out of the dust of the ground, and then by the breath of God became a living soul. For continued existence Adam and Eve were dependent upon the tree of life (Gen. 3:22); so, being probationers in Eden (Gen. 2:17), they were not immortal even then, much less since that time. Man is now wholly mortal. “Dying thou shalt die,” refers to the whole man.

2. “The Lord knew that Adam could not be happy without labor; therefore, He gave him the pleasant employment of dressing the garden. And, as he tended the things of beauty and usefulness around him, he could behold the goodness and glory of God in His created works. Adam had themes for contemplation in the works of God in Eden, which was heaven in miniature. God did not form man merely to contemplate His glorious works; therefore, He gave him hands for labor, as well as a mind and heart for contemplation. If the happiness of man consisted in doing nothing, the Creator would not have given Adam his appointed work. Man was to find happiness in labor as well as in meditation. Adam could take in the grand idea that he was created in the image of God, to be like Him in righteousness and holiness. His mind was capable of continual cultivation, expansion, refinement, and noble elevation; for God was his teacher and angels were his companions.”—Redemption, E. G. W., pp. 7, 8.

3. “God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided an ‘helpmeet for him,’—a helper corresponding to him,—one who was fitted to be his companion, and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him, as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self; showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46.

4. Adam and Eve being made “in the image of God,” and “but little lower than the angels,” the glory of God must have shined forth from them as from no other portion of His creation on the earth. They “were draped in light, as were the heavenly angels.”—Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 41. “The robe of light which had enshrouded them, now disappeared.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 57. This chapter shows that Adam and Eve talked with God in Eden. “The pure in heart live as in the visible presence of God during the time He apportions them in this world. And they will also see God face to face in the future immortal state, as did Adam when he walked and talked with God in Eden.”—Mount of Blessing, p. 43.

ADDITIONAL STUDY.

1. Out of what did the Lord make man? animals? plants? minerals? the earth? See note 1.

2. Compare the first and second Adams. 1 Cor. 15:44-48.

3. Note the description of the tree of life given in Eze. 47:12 and Rev. 22:2.

4. Show that woman was created on the sixth day. Gen. 1:27, 28; 2:1.

5. Why was it important that Adam and Eve should observe the Sabbath in Eden? “Patriarchs and Prophets,” pp. 47, 48.

6. Why was labor essential to the happiness of Adam and Eve in Eden? “Patriarchs and Prophets,” p. 50.

7. The Lord said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” Was it good for Eve?

8. Adam named everything over which he was given dominion. Who knows the names of all things? Ps. 147:4; Isa. 40:26; 45:3, etc.

9. Who will have a right to the tree of life by and by? Rev. 22:14.

10. What two sacred institutions are as old as the world? Give proof.

11. Do you know what it is to walk and talk with God?