Father Knows Best (Genesis 2:15-24)

GENESIS 2:15-24 – FATHER KNOWS BEST

Does anyone remember who Jim Anderson was on television in the late 50’s and early 60’s?

He was the wise father, played by Robert Young, on the show “Father Knows Best”.

On this show it seems that the father always knew what was right.

He always made the right decisions.

He always knew what was best.

Fathers and mothers are very often wise, very often right, and very often they know what is best.

I discovered over the years that my own dad and mom were very often wise, very often right, and very often knew what was best! I am appreciative for the upbringing and the support that my parents gave me.

However, Jim Anderson on television was not perfect.

Dad Peters was not perfect.

Your father wasn’t or isn’t perfect.

As a father, or in any other way, I’m not perfect.

In reality fathers do not always know what’s best.

That’s because we all have a faulty human nature.

Every one of us is a sinner! That means we are fallible.

I have good news! There is a father who always knows best.

The father who always knows best is our Heavenly Father.

Because He is God, He is always right, always accurate, always loving, and always knows best. He is far superior to any of us human fathers or mothers. Isaiah 55:8-9

In this passage we are looking at God’s dealings with the first man, Adam. At this point Adam was in the perfect environment.

God, in his great wisdom and because He knows best created Adam with some needs. God has created you and I with the same needs.

Except for the arrival of Eve, creation had been completed.

Vs. 8 – God created a wonderful garden called Eden.

He placed man in that garden.

THE NEED FOR LABOR – Vs. 15

The word “put” is worth noting. According to the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, in the original language the word is used in conjunction with God’s rest or safety. It is also used in reference to the ‘”dedication’ of something in the presence of the Lord.”

According to Expositor’s Bible Commentary, “Man was ‘put’ into the garden where he could rest and be ‘safe,’ and man was ‘put’ into the garden ‘in God’s presence’ where he could have fellowship with God.” Frank E. Gaebelein General Editor, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 2, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House, 1990) pp. 44-45

This reminds me of some very important truths.

God loved Adam.
God placed Adam in a place where he would be safe.
God placed Adam in His own presence, the presence of God.

I can’t help but think, that as Christians although we are no longer in the perfect Garden of Eden, God loves us, God keeps us safe, God, through the Holy Spirit, has placed us in His own presence.

God did not create man to just sit around.

God created man to be useful and productive.

God placed man in the garden to cultivate it and take care of it.

Of course Adam’s labor here was a little easier than the farmer of today. Adam was working ground that had not been cursed by sin. Although he might have worked hard, there would not be the frustrations of farming that came after the fall of man.

God has intended that, when physically possible, people should work.

Some Scriptures that remind us of the importance of work: Proverbs 18:9, Proverbs 13:4, Ephesians 4:28, Colossians 3:23

A NEED FOR LIBERTY

Adam was no robot.

He was given certain freedoms.

According to Vs. 16, he was able to chose what he wanted to eat. Trees are specifically mentioned, but there would also be that which he grew from the tilling of the soil and planting. There was probably a wide variety of foods from which to choose.

Vs. 19 – Adam was a very intelligent man. He had the freedom and ability to name all the animals.

God has given us a great deal of liberty or freedom.

Each day we get to chose the clothes that we are going to wear.

We make choices of where we are going to go and what we are going to do.

We make decisions concerning career, concerning family, concerning friendships and a host of other things.

A NEED FOR LIMITATIONS

Vs. 17 – We are most secure when we have boundaries.

With freedom comes responsibility.

With responsibility comes limitations.

There are things that God says “no” to.

Because Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they eventually died physically. The moment they ate of the fruit they died spiritually. Separation occurred between them and God.

Ezekiel 18:4 – Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

One big problem that we have with God is that we fail to realize how much he cares! We don’t realize that when he puts limits on our liberty, that He is doing it because “Father knows best!”

A NEED FOR LOVE

Vs. 18 – Father knows best concerning man.

He knows that it is not good for man to be alone.

Single men are to be the exception, not the rule, even in ministry.

God decided to give man a partner, a “help meet”

He has provided someone to share the joys and sorrows of life.

I think of God giving man a best friend who is an extension of him. She is distinctly and wonderfully different, and yet uniquely part of himself.

Read Vss. 19-22

Vs. 23 – Notice the natural attraction. Men and women are naturally attracted and impressed with each other.

Vs. 24 – Man was to leave his Father and Mother and cleave to his wife. The two were to be “one flesh” with one life. This was and is a life that is to be lived together, complimenting and supporting each other.

God has met our need for love in the marriage relationship.

Father knows best!

A NEED FOR LIFE

And because father knows best, He met another one of our needs, the need for forgiveness and eternal life.

Like Adam and Eve we have failed God.

Like Adam and Eve we are spiritually dead.

God, being just, needs a payment for our sins.

Someone has to pay!

That’s why God provided His Son, who died in our place for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus has paid for our sins, but He gives us a choice.

We can believe on Christ, trust Him as our way of forgiveness, or we can pay for our sins some other way, such as trying to be good, or going to church, or trying to keep the 10 commandments, or giving money. The only problem is, all other ways do not bring forgiveness, and a person ends up paying for sin in hell for all eternity! John 14:6, Acts 4:12, John 3:36

The Father has met your need for eternal life because He knows best. Have you accepted His way through Christ?

Now, if you have trusted Christ as Savior God is meeting your needs in a special way. He still knows best!

THE NEED FOR LABOR

God did not place you “in Christ” to be idle.

He placed you “in Christ” to serve. Ephesians 2:10, Luke 9:23, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Peter 4:10-11

THE NEED FOR LIBERTY

In Christ we have a newfound freedom over sin and death. Romans 6:14

According to Galatians 5:13, Liberty controlled by love enables us to serve one another. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

In Christ there is also

THE NEED FOR LIMITATIONS

Because God is holy, He expects us to live holy lives as His children. He hates certain things, and because we are His “kids” we should hate the same things. Galatians 5:19-21

In Christ there is

THE NEED FOR LOVE

Our need for love is met in Christ.

The church is the “bride of Christ”.

There is no doubt that He loves and cares for us.

And He loves us on a higher level than all those things that are mentioned concerning the husband/wife relationship mentioned in Genesis 2.

God said it was not good for man to be alone.

The Lord Jesus says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The partner was to be a best friend. Our Lord is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Mates are attracted to each other. Our Lord was attracted to us, dying for us before we were even born again.

We are attracted to Christ, if we have been truly born again.

And finally, there is the “one flesh” relationship. The moment you trusted Christ, you became part of His “body”.

Father knows best! He has met our needs!

THE NEED FOR LIFE

Not only has Christ met our need for eternal life, but he has met our need for a fulfilled life now.

He has given us real living! John 10:10, Romans 5:17

Father knows best, therefore he has done things that meet our needs in Christ.