From the Beginning

Do you know what the very first thing God said to man was? That's pretty important to know, don't you think? Firsts with God are huge! They set a precedent. They teach us about His character. They teach us more of Who He Is and what's really important to Him.

So, have you found it yet?

What were the very first words that came out of the mouth of God to Adam and Eve? What did He say to them? Genesis 1, verse 28 says, "God blessed them..." (Wow! That's cool enough!) "God blessed them (male and female, vs. 27) and said to them...

Be fruitful..." In other words, be full of fruit. "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and...rule over everything..."

Then He said in verse 29 & 30, "I give you...everything that has the breath of life in it..." So, He said, "be fruitful" and then He supplied everything they would need to be fruitful! I love it! Think about that...If you've read any of my posts from the beginning of this year, you'll understand why that is SO cool to me! Fruit means many things in scripture. I challenge you to do a word study on it and let the Holy Spirit teach you "wonderful things from His law" (Psalm 119:18). Jesus said in John 15:8, "It is to my Father's glory that you bear MUCH fruit!" And that desire of God began "in the beginning" of time.

The next thing God said to man is in chapter 2. Only this time it's His first command. There seems to be a little more clout behind His words in chapter 2 (if that's possible with God-I think everything has clout when He speak!). Listen to verse 16 & 17...

"The LORD (Jehovah) God (Elohim) commanded the man..."

So, it's not just God said. This time it's the LORD, Jehovah God commanded. That's distinctly different. Okay, so, the LORD God commanded what? Let's read on. He commanded the man...

"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

I love how He begins by telling man what he "can" do before He mentions what he cannot do. You are FREE to eat from any tree in the garden. Shouldn't that be enough? Verse 9 of chapter 2 says God made "all kinds of trees" grow in this garden so there had to be dozens or even hundreds or thousands of them. But there was one...just one...that God said you must not eat from this one...or you will surely die.

From the very beginning of time we learn that God gives mankind commands that require faith. (Another reason we need to teach children to obey their parents and teachers even when they don't understand why.) Are you the type person that always asks why? And you always want an answer? We expect an answer, don't we? The longer I live and learn, the more often I realize there is not always an answer to my whys. Nor should there be. Adam was asked by God, actually commanded by God to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We know from the rest of the story that it was pleasing to the eye and looked good for food but God said no. Adam, however, had no idea why. He only knew if he ate it, he would die. But why would he die? Why was it off limits? It looked like all the other trees; the fruit appeared scrumptious; it even smelled delicious. What was the big deal? He didn't have all the answers because "without faith it is impossible to please God." Why is it impossible to please God without faith? (this one, God answers) "Because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." (and obey Him like all the heroes of the faith listed in the rest of Hebrews 11.)

God is delighted when we trust Him. Even and especially when we don't understand. He's looking for a childlike faith. "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Hebrews 11:3) We can't put every piece of the puzzle together in this life. But one day...one day it will all fit. And it will all make sense!

May we trust Him, obey Him and delight in Him until we draw our last breath!