(a) Narrate the story of the second creation as contained in Genesis chapter 2. (b) How does this story illustrate the sovereignty of God?

Answer Details

(a) The story of the second creation (Genesis 2)

The second account focuses on the making of man and his environment. On the day the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, no plant had yet sprung up because God had not caused it to rain and there was no man to till the ground; a mist went up and watered the whole face of the ground.

• The forming of man. The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being (Adam).
• The Garden of Eden. God planted a garden eastward in Eden and put the man there. He caused every tree pleasant to the sight and good for food to grow, including the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, in the middle of the garden.
• The rivers. A river flowed out of Eden and divided into four heads: Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates.
• Man's duty and the command. God put the man in the garden to till and keep it, permitting him to eat of every tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that in the day he ate of it he would surely die.
• Naming of animals. God formed the beasts and birds and brought them to the man to name, but no suitable helper was found for him.
• The making of woman. God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, took one of his ribs, and made a woman, bringing her to the man. Adam called her Woman because she was taken out of Man, and the two became one flesh. They were both naked and were not ashamed.

(b) How the story illustrates the sovereignty of God

1. God is the sole Creator who forms man out of dust and gives life by His own breath, showing His absolute power over life.
2. He plants and orders the whole environment, providing food, water and beauty, demonstrating His lordship over nature.
3. He assigns man his work and lays down a command with a penalty, proving His authority to rule and to be obeyed.
4. He alone provides a companion for man, showing that all human relationships depend on His will.
5. Everything exists at His word and pleasure, so man and creation are wholly dependent on Him.