Understanding Genesis #3: River of life

In today's study, we look at the creation account in Gen 2 and then survey the biblical literature to see how the theme of the river of life appears throughout the Bible climaxing in the Gospel of John and the water coming from Jesus' side and then culminating in the river that comes from the Throne in Rev 22:1-3. 

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Biblical pattern 

1. Chaos             
2. Creation        
3. Commission of kings for divine glory 
4. Sinful fall       
5. Exile                 

 

Gen 2:4-14

2:4

1. ‘These are the _____________________” (4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 36:9?; 37:2) 
2. When the ‘Lord God’ (Yahweh-Elohim): the Name that was revealed to Moses (Yahweh/Lord) combined with the name for God (Elohim) in Gen 1:1-2:3.

1. 1. Identifies that the covenant God of Israel is responsible for the creation!!

 

2:7-9 Events: forming of man, planting garden, placing of man 

1. Man made from dust (7; 1 Cor 15:45) Adam from the Adamah
2. Breathed into his nostrils the _____________________________

1. 1. Divine breath given to all; not just the royal figures
   2. Ruach God’s personal presence: energy, wind, breath, spirit

1. God planted a garden ________ Eden (2:8, 10; 4:16)
2. Adam is moved to this garden; he returns to his former place (3:23)
3. Tree of life and the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil/bad (9): planted by God!

1. 1. Tree of Life: used throughout the OT (Gen 2:9; 3:22, 24; Prov 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4); and in the NT—though here it is used in the context of a re-creation (Rev 2:7; 22:2, 14, 19) 
   2. Tree of Good and bad (Gen 24:50; 31:24; Lev 27:9-15; Num 13:19; 24:13; Deut 30:15)
   3. ‘Discerning good and evil’ is a Hebrew expression referring to kings and authority figures making judgments in carrying out justice

 

2:10-14 Excursus: the four rivers 

1. 4 rivers (10) 

1. 1. Pishon (11)
   2. Gihon (13)

1. 1. 1. Spring in Jerusalem (1 Kings 1:33, 38, 45)
   2. Tigris (14); east of Assur/Assyria
   3. Euphrates (only river not associated with a land) 

 

Waters

Joel 3:18

Zech 14:8

Isa 2 

Rev 22:1-5

Ezek 40-48

John 2, 3, 4, 7, 13, 19-Spirit