Genesis 1 and 2 gives the story of the creation. With power and wisdom, God created everything with the potential to reproduce after it’s kind. God was guaranteeing species, genus, family and order.
Genesis 1:24-25 NKJV Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
After creating everything else, God created man.
Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
God made the man and woman differently from everything else He created.
Genesis 2:7 NKJV 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 being.
Only man received the breath of life from God. For a period of time Adam dwelt in the garden of Eden alone. God put him in the garden to “tend and keep” it.
Genesis 2:16-17 NKJV And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
During the days that he was alone, God brought every living creature to Adam to see what he would call them. Whatever he called them, that was its name.
It must have been an amazing time for Adam.
Everything was new and undefiled. He was living the single life. Every living creature from livestock to birds and wild beast were brought by God to Adam.
It became obvious to Adam that he was alone.
Adam was unique and different from everything that God brought before him.
- There were swarms of bees and flocks of birds.
- There were schools of fish and herds of cattle and elephants.
- There were prides of lions and troops of monkeys.
- Whales had their pods and giraffes had their tower.
But, Adam was alone.
Adam had no one on earth that was like him. Being created in the image of God enabled Adam to have special fellowship with God. He was special and unique from every other creation. Nothing else was like Adam.
But Adam was alone.
Genesis 2:18 NKJV And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Take note that it was in God’s consideration that man should not be alone.
Watch what God did. God did not start over with a new mound of dust and clay. God performed the first surgery.
Genesis 2:21-22 NKJV And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
God made the woman with a rib bone.
There were several reasons for this. God could have started over with dust and clay, but by using Adam’s rib, she was identified as his partner. God was creating a living being that was just right for Adam. When God was finished, Adam knew that she was made for him. She was truly fitting for Adam and fully adequate.
Genesis 2:23 NKJV And Adam 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.”
God did not take a bone from Adam’s toe to signify that he should rule over her. He did not take a bone from his head to indicate that she would rule over him. God took a bone from his side to show that they should have equality and mutual respect. She would be his companion and helper by his side. Eve was a complement to Adam. God was establishing a special relationship that has endured. God was doing much more than creating a partner for Adam.
God was creating family.
Genesis 2:24 NKJV Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Family is a gift of God.
The first genealogy reveals the birth and growth of family. It starts with God creating the male and female and blessing them.
Biblically, family starts with a man and woman.
Then Adam and Eve had two sons – Cain, Abel. Although Adam was created in the image and likeness of God, his sons were completely different. Abel did what was pleasing to God, but sin was crouching at Cain’s door. Later the text tells us of Seth and Adam’s sons and daughters. At 130 years, Adam and Eve had a son named Seth who was in Adam’s image and likeness, (Genesis 5:1-3). From that first family we see the potential for good and evil in all of us.
Families are a gift of God.
From Adam and Eve we get all families of the earth.
If you could trace your genealogy back, you would find that you are related to Adam and Eve. We are brothers and sisters.
The next major family comes from Noah.
Noah was a blameless man who walked with God.
God established a covenant with Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives.
Noah’s family is a great illustration of the impact of a blameless and godly life.
“Noah prepared an ark for the saving of his family.”
This is a challenge to every father and mother. We can build an ark of safety for the salvation of our family.
After they exited the ark, God blessed Noah and his family.
Every family, culture and race of mankind can be traced back to Noah.
Noah’s genealogy continues down to Terah who begot Abram.
Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.” I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
God’s promise to Abraham came down to Isaac, Jacob, and the children of Israel.
From the seed of Abraham comes King David, on whom the Spirit of God came, (1 Samuel 16:13).
In 2 Samuel 7, God promised David, “I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.” The blessing of Abraham and the blessing of David follows this covenant to the Man Jesus Christ.
Revelation 5:5 NKJV But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed…”
Family is God’s Gift…
As we look throughout history, we can see God’s interest in family.
As we remember moms and dads today, I want to encourage you to be people of God.
The word FAMILY brings up all kinds of memories and images.
“Family” reminds me of wonderful times with mom and dad, aunts and uncles, grandparents, nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters.
- When I think of FAMILY, I think heritage and legacy.
- Family reminds me of love, care, comfort and fun.
- Family brings thoughts of happy times and sorrowful times.
- Family reminds me of times we shared worshipping and praying together.
- Family means a place where you are safe from criticism and condemnation.
What comes to your mind when you think about FAMILY?
We have diverse FAMILY experiences.
- Some have parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents that were good and righteous people.
- Some are first generation believers.
- Some were never taught to pray or read their Bible.
- Some of your parents played a passive role in your life. Others had family devotions and always attended church.
- Each of us remember lessons our parents taught us.
Things Our Parents Taught Us
- Dad taught me LOGIC… “If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can’t go to the store with me.”
- Mother taught me MEDICINE… “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they’re going to freeze that way.”
- Dad taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE… “What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you… Don’t talk back to me!”
- Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT… “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.
- Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION… “Just wait until your father gets home.”
When we scroll through the stories of families in the Bible, we see the diversity of family dynamics.
- Some moms and dads were great people of faith and righteousness.
- David was a man after God’s own heart and Solomon his son built the Temple of God. David had another son who broke his heart.
- Back in the Old Testament, Ahaziah became king of Judah and followed the evil ways of his father Ahab. 2 Chronicles 22:3 says, “his mother Athaliah encouraged Ahaziah in doing wrong.” When Ahaziah died, his mother arose and murdered all the royal heirs. Joash the son of Ahaziah was hidden by his aunt so he would not be murdered. Joash became king and did what was right in the sight of the Lord
- Job was a righteous man who was blameless and upright, but his children loved to feast and drink. Job regularly offered burnt offerings for his children who sinned.
- Nothing is said about Timothy’s father, but his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois were women of great faith.
- Not much is said about Moses’ two sons Gershom and Eliezer.
Jesus introduced another family that is a gift of God.
Mark 3:31-35 NKJV Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
What is Jesus saying?
Jesus is talking about family and faith.
Looking back over the years, many people come to my mind who have become near and dear. We are family.
We have been made the family of God.
