At one time or another, we all ask the question, “Why is life so hard,” or some variation of that basic question. We are beginning a series called “Still Hiding,” which argues that God did not design the human experience to be so difficult and tragic; rather, the early events in Genesis explain how we (taking the bait from the master deceiver) were the architects of our own demise.
But God, in his gracious response to those events, initiated the story of redemption. In this series, we cover the original design followed by those tragic events. The goal is to help us unpack how those early stories still affect us today and provide eternal hope in God’s reconciliation of all things through his Son, Jesus our Lord.
Why Two Creation Stories
“In the beginning” is the phrase we use to identify the Biblical creation story. But have you noticed that there are two creation stories in the Bible? Both tell the story about creation from God’s perspective, but from vastly different vantage points. The second creation account begins in Genesis 2:4b.
Why are there two stories; why not combine them? We can’t say with certainty, but we can speculate. Perhaps God knows that humans have difficulty holding contrasting perspectives (the idea that two things can be true at the same time). To address this human limitation, he presents two stories revealed in creation, for he desires that we come to know him and to know ourselves. This is something the two stories lend themselves to, as we will discover.
Is He Revealing Two Creation Stories Or The Godhead
This tension between the two creation accounts is evident in how the creator is depicted. In the first story, God brings order out of chaos. He’s powerful, omnipotent, a judge, and a king. But then in story two, he brings oneness; he is relational, redeeming, improving things, and bringing meaning and beauty into the world. Understanding these two aspects of God’s nature is foundational for a Christian’s understanding of God’s character.
Revealing Man Or The Foundation Of Family And Civilization
We find a tension in the revelation of man as well. When considering man in Story one, he is alone, made in the image, and called to rule the earth as male and female. We’re not sure what those things mean. What is aloneness? What does it mean to bear the image? And what does it mean to rule, and how do we execute that?
In Story Two, the questions from Story One are hinted at. Adam learns about his surroundings, other beings in the garden, and, of course, Eve. And most importantly, the Creator God from Story One becomes the personal God in Story Two, sharing his very breath with the man to awaken a living soul.
I want to suggest that both creation accounts are less about explaining the origin of the cosmos. Instead, they are more about helping us see who God is and what it means to be human – those unique beings who carry his image. We will unpack this idea of image more in our next post.
For now, as you read both stories, notice how God is outside of creation in the first account, and then he seems to step into creation in the second. He interacts with nature and befriends humanity – the artist becomes part of the masterpiece. It almost feels as if in Story One we are led to ask questions and then Story Two begins to reveal the answers. This question-and-answer format teaches us about intimacy and purpose, inspiring hope and reassurance that our journey has meaning.
Let’s look at a side-by-side comparison of both accounts.
God – Story One
(Gen. 1:1 – 2:4a)
God – Story Two
(Begin at Gen. 2:4b)
God’s Name – Elohim
Elohim is the Hebrew name for God used in story one.
See footnote
God’s Name – YHVH Elohim
YHVH Elohim is the Hebrew personal name for God used in story two. YHVH Elohim is often translated as “Lord God” in our English Bibles.
See footnote
“Heaven and earth”
In Genesis 1:1, heaven comes first, then earth.
“Earth and heaven”
In Genesis 2:4b, the order is reversed. The LORD God (YHVH Elohim) made the earth and the heavens.
Operates Using Time
Day 1, Day 2, … Day 7
Sun, moon, stars, etc
Timeless
Chronology does not seem to exist. One might say that the seventh day is a perpetual Sabbath.
Story One ends in Gen. 2:4a; Story Two does not appear to have an ending.
The World Is Neatly Ordered
God separates and divides things.
He creates boundaries. (light from darkness, waters above & below, evening & morning)
The World Is Integrated
Lord God brings oneness, connectedness, and relational aspects to creation.
Adam was created outside of the garden, but then placed within Eden.
Gen. 2:8
God The Almighty
God is known by his power, perfection, excellence, understanding, knowledge, and his commands. He brings order out of chaos.
He establishes boundaries, separating and dividing elements of creation.
The earth, especially the Garden of Eden, seems to be a sacred space. The garden is the meeting place between heaven and earth.
Creation is maintenance-free, self-replicating systems; i.e., seed-bearing plants and trees.
God creates three domains: the heavens, the earth, and the seas. Each domain has middle managers ruling them: Sun, Moon | Great fish | Adam
God judges creation like a sculptor – “this is good,” and then he stops.
The Personal God
The Lord God narrows His focus to the earth and to how Adam is to interact with it.
Creation is organic and natural. There is no command to “be fruitful and multiply”.
Life is ‘timeless,’ it just happens.
In Story Two, YHVH Elohim (his personal name) steps into creation to bring meaning and beauty into the world. He plants a garden and shares his delight with Adam.
God is Intimate and mystical. He is not as easy to understand, but he is more relatable.
Man – Story One
Man – Story Two
Man’s Source?
Where does man come from? We don’t know.
What is important is the “image and likeness.”
Man’s Source – Earth And Breath
Where does man come from? Adam is made from earth and the breath of YHVH Elohim. His source is twofold (earth and breath)
Man is relational – with animals, Eve, and God.
Man – The Master
Man is in charge.
His mission is to conquer and rule.
The land is his domain.
Man – The Care Giver
Man is still in charge, but he is to work and care for the land.
Lord God saw that it was “not good” that Adam was alone. This suggests a third option (good, bad, and not good); “not good,” leaving room for improvement.
Eve, taken from Adam’s side, was the answer to “not good,” that man was alone.
As we begin this journey through the early chapters of the Bible, I want to invite you to engage with the story. Let’s do this with a few questions.
Questions
Please read both creation accounts before looking at the questions below.
- Do you feel more comfortable with or drawn to one story of creation more than the other?
- Why might you be drawn to one or the other story?
- How do these two accounts inform your understanding of God?
- As you consider both creation accounts, do they evoke any emotions in you?
- Can you identify those emotions and process why you might have those feelings?
- How can we reconcile these two very different understandings of God? Consider the Jewish Shema.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
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