QT 7/14/2025 Gen 2:4–9, Mind renewal is required for contentment

Genesis 2:4–9 (ESV) —

4 These are the generations

of the heavens and the earth when they were created,

in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

NOTE: So, I don't want to start any controversies, because I am perfectly fine with six 24-hour days. But this is the sixth day (or age) when God creates man. In this day, bushes and small plants had not sprung up. This would support the overlapping ages theory, where the third age has not finished yet and overlaps with four through six. Another theory suggests the first six days are divided into two similar triplets where the third day is like the sixth day. So if God created man on the sixth day, it would be harden to take care of the plants that are just starting to appear. But he could be working the ground in the garden, since it says that God planted a garden. Also God makes the trees spring up, which either occurs miraculously fully formed or their some time involved. The Hebrew word for spring up (vs 9), tsamach, means to sprout or grow, it does not mean "appear" or fully formed. So once again, the idea of a God-directed creation and an old earth does has support in the scriptures.

 

It is notable that all of the trees were pleasant to the sight and good for food. Later, as Eve moves to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the comment is made that Eve saw the fruit as good for food and a delight for the eyes (3:5-6) (with the additional temptation to be like God). So, Eve cannot argue that the forbidden tree was the only tree that was pleasant to the sight or good for food. God had provided good and pleasing food in many other trees.

 

So what does it all mean? Neglecting the fact that Eve did not have a sin nature when she fell, I think we all struggle (in our sin nature) with a couple of issues, contentment and thinking the grass is greener on the other side. Both issues are similar and yet different. The first causes us to forget to be thankful for all that God provides. The second issue causes us to covet things others have or experience. God provided a wonderful garden. What has God provided in our life that we have not thanked him?

 

PONDER:

1. Do I struggle with contentment? Maybe I need to watch Pollyanna to learn how to be thankful
2. Do I struggle with coveting other's things? Again, do I need to spend time in prayer thanking God for the good things I do have?

 

PRAYER: Father, there is no easy answer to the struggle of contentment and coveting. It requires an attitude change and a different way of thinking. Help us to search your word daily and allow it change our mind. Only the cleansing of the mind through the word of God can change us internally.