Here we learn about Adam and Eve, our ancestors. Learning about them illustrates Gods purpose for creating the universe, His love and compassion as well as the way He intends for us to live. Learning from Adam and Eve’s mistakes can help us to understand the nature of sin and its consequences.

            Genesis chapter 2 begins by God declaring on the seventh day, after all He created was good, that the day was blessed for rest. We live in a busy and hectic world, there is always something that needs to be done, but God made it clear we still need to make time for rest. Since He mentions having a blessed day of rest, it’s important to take note that it’s not just the rest we need, but it’s a day we need to keep Holy by focusing on Him and our relationship Him in our moment of rest. This doesn't mean just think about God once a week, you can’t have a very good relationship with someone just by acknowledging them once a week, we should talk to Him and seek Him daily. But we need to make it a point to have our time of rest and to thank Him for it. In Mark 6:31-32, Jesus told His disciples to get away from everyone and have a moment to rest. We will always have a lot to do but if we want to get things done effectively, it’s important to be rested enough to get the job done right.

            The bible tells us that God created man by forming him from the dust of the ground, but man didn't become anything of use until God breathed the breath of life into Him. This shows us that without God, we are comparable to something as unimportant as dust, but with God, we are valuable. God could have made woman the same way, but He chose to cause Adam to fall into a deep sleep while God took one of his ribs which He made into woman. This doesn't mean that woman are second to man, we are all equal. What this shows its two flesh’ becoming one, Adam and Eve were to illustrate husband and wife, they were to be each other’s partners and by making woman from man, it shows us what God intends for marriage, to have two literally become one. God shows that man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. This is why God didn't create Eve from the dust in the ground like He did with Adam.

            Before God created Eve to be with Adam, He gave Adam the privilege of naming all the animals that God created. God could have just told Adam what He wanted to call them, but instead He wanted Adam to see how important He was to God, so God told Adam that he can name all the birds of the air and the beasts of the fields. God doesn't want to just boss His people around; He wants us to get involved with His plan, because He loves us. It would be easier to just tell us what is and let it be, but He seeks a relationship with us and wants us to be involved.

            God put two trees in the garden amongst all of the other random trees, the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and told Adam eat freely of all the trees except the tree of knowledge of good and evil for you will die if you do. The name of the tree of knowledge of good and evil indicates that had already occurred, but since Adam didn't know sin just yet it probably refers to the evil of Satan’s fall. Many people ask, why wouldn't God just take that tree away so they wouldn't be tempted? And the answer is free will. God loves us so much that He doesn't want to force us into anything, even if it is for our own good, He wants us to have freewill and the chance to choose whatever choice we desire. Think about it this way, if your spouse was forced to marry you, they had no say in the matter, and how would you know if they really loved you or if they were just making the best out of what they were given? God doesn't want to force us into a relationship with Him, He wants us to want one and to seek Him so He knows our love is real and full and not hollow. So He gave Adam and Eve the choice to obey Him, or to disobey Him.

            The last sentence in the chapter tells us that Adam and Eve were both naked and they were not ashamed. They weren't ashamed because they had not sinned yet, there was no sin yet, just good. Could you imagine living in a world with no sin, no sickness, no disease, no accidents or murders, just complete goodness? It’s important to know that that is what God blessed Adam and Eve with, complete goodness, which is why they didn't feel negative emotions like being ashamed. It’s important to know what Adam and Eve had before they chose to give it up by disobeying God. God loves us and doesn't give us a list of rules to be bossy, God gives us things to avoid for our own safety and protection, all we have to do is read His word and follow it.