Genesis 2: The First Garden

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

by Chinwenmeri Ikechi

God rests on the seventh day, blessing it.

Genesis 2

After God finished creating the world in six days, He rested on the seventh day. God was not tired, but He rested to show that rest is important. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy. This teaches us that God wants people to take time to rest and spend time with Him.

God breathes life into Adam, formed from dust, in the lush Garden of Eden with the Tree of Life.

Genesis 2 then explains how God created the first man. God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. The man became a living person. This shows that life comes from God.

God planted a beautiful garden called the Garden of Eden. In the garden, God placed the man and gave him everything he needed. There were many trees with good food. Two special trees were in the middle of the garden. One was the tree of life, and the other was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Adam in the Garden of Eden, naming animals brought by God, with the forbidden tree visible in the background.

God gave the man a job to do. He was to work in the garden and take care of it. God told the man that he could eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned him that eating from that tree would bring death. This rule was given to help the man learn obedience and trust.

God saw that it was not good for the man to be alone. So God decided to make a helper who was just right for him. God brought the animals to the man so he could name them, but none of them were a perfect helper for him.

God presents a joyful Adam with Eve, created from his rib, in the Garden of Eden, both naked and unashamed.

Then God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. God took one of the man’s ribs and made a woman. When the man saw her, he was very happy. The man and woman were made to be companions, to love and help each other.

The chapter ends by telling us that the man and woman were both naked and felt no shame. This means they were innocent and lived peacefully with no fear or wrongdoing.

God lovingly creates Adam and Eve in a peaceful garden, showing the beginnings of family and purpose.

Genesis 2 teaches us that God created people with love, gave them responsibility, values rest, and designed families and friendships for our good.

Discussion Questions

1 What did God do on the seventh day?

God rested on the seventh day and made it holy to show that rest is important.

2 How did God create the first man?

God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him.

3 What was the name of the special garden God made?

The special garden God made was called the Garden of Eden.

4 What job did God give the man?

God gave the man the job to work in the garden and take care of it.

5 Which tree was the man told not to eat from?

The man was told not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

6 Why did God give the man a rule?

God gave the man a rule to help him learn obedience and trust.

7 Why did God say it was not good for the man to be alone?

God said it was not good for the man to be alone because he wanted to make a helper who was just right for him.

8 How did God create the woman?

God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and made a woman.

9 How did the man and woman feel about being naked?

The man and woman were both naked and felt no shame, meaning they were innocent and lived peacefully with no fear or wrongdoing.

10 What lesson does Genesis 2 teach us?

Genesis 2 teaches us that God created people with love, gave them responsibility, values rest, and designed families and friendships for our good.