The difference is quite significant.If we read it with Genesis 1, then the writers of Genesis or at least those that collated it must have been dull.Why tell two creation stories back to back that are so different?The answer is simple.While Genesis 1-3 fit together into the larger Creation Saga, Genesis 2 is really an introduction to what will happen in chapter 3 and eventually chapter 4. On Sunday, we will look at Genesis 3, so how does Genesis 2 prepare us to understand the full stories meaning?To answer this question, we need to understand the main theme of this story, which is: “Human Destiny in God’s New Creation.”Genesis 2 seeks to tell us how we fit in to Creation, what our role in creation is, and the best way to live.So, let’s look at the story …. We begin with an act of creation, again the ultimate act of grace, as a stream rises up to water the earth (water is the beginning of life, the sustainer of life … there is a reason Jesus refers to himself as “Living Water.”), and God forms man from the dust and breathes life into him (Later, 2 Timothy 3:16 will say, “All scripture is inspired by God …” or God-breathed.We believe that what makes the word of God living is God’s breath or God’s Spirit.Which makes you wonder, what is this “breath of life” of God?). With this new life, God creates a home, a lush Garden, identifying two trees, and setting man in the middle of it with one job “to till it and keep it.” The first tree in the garden is the tree of life, which tradition ties to royalty and scripture picks up in Proverbs (referring to anything that enhances and celebrates life including righteousness, desire fulfilled and a gentle tongue) and in Revelation (referring to fellowship with God).In either case the image is of life, life with God, i.e., life in abundance.The second tree identified is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which appears nowhere else in Scripture.In fact, the only significance given this tree appears to be God’s command not to eat from it, which is the main point, as God says, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." This beginning marks the existence of humanity in covenant with God, a new relationship established by God, as God binds himself to creation in the act of creation, an act of grace bringing into existence that which did not exist before God.Grace is the foundation of our relationship with God, which makes us dependent upon God. Vocation, Permission, and Prohibition are the realities built upon that Grace.First, God gives us work.We are placed in the garden to “till and keep.”Work is good and meant to enhance the creation of God.In giving us a vocation, God is inviting us to share in God’s work, to care for God’s creation, and to exercise dominion in that same gracious manner in the world. Second, God gives permission.We are encouraged to enjoy the sustenance of God’s creation, to rejoice in the abundance of God’s work, and to give thanks for all that God has supplied.This permission is an invitation to acknowledge God’s creation and grace in our midst. Third, God prohibits.There is no explanation, which I have to tell you would just kill the younger version of me, or if you will, Ethan.“But why?” goes unanswered.It is as if God says, “Because I said so, that’s why.”Why is not a question the scriptures are interested in answering.We learn the consequences of eating but not the why.God expects us to obey without knowing why.God intends for us to obey without knowing why.It is the very heart of trust. In these three we find the heart of human destiny before God: Vocation, Permission, and Prohibition.They come together like a three legged stool.Have you ever tried to sit on a one or two legged stool?Don’t try it, trust me, it will lead to pain in your backside.It is the same with these three.You must hold all three together (work, blessing, and obedience) in trust leaning on the grace of God, dependent upon the one who created you. The second act of story begins with an acknowledgement of God."It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner."It is interesting to me that God does not picture himself as man’s helper.It is not appropriate to envision God as man’s helper.I think this is appropriate and a helpful corrective to our image of who God is.God is not our helper.God is not our partner.God is God … King … Creator … Gracious Provider, but not one we summon to help us out with every whim or jam.God is God.It is important that humanity not be alone, isolated or might we suggest self-centered, so God creates again, but no creature will do, the creatures lack what man needs as a partner.So God puts man to sleep and draws from him the very creation that will be his partner, and upon awaking, man exclaims, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman (ishshah in Hebrew), for out of Man (Ish in Hebrew) this one was taken.” Man proclaims covenant with the Woman and they like God and creation before them are bound in a covenant of grace together, for there is nothing that brought them together except the very creative grace of God.So the text tells us that a man leaves his parents and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. They become one, a covenant, which I would suggest might look very familiar to one between God and man (work, blessing, obedience), keeping in mind that man and woman are partners and neither one of them is God, so their covenant is mutual.They work together.They are blessed together.And they are obedient (love and respect) to each other.In the same way that human beings must uphold all three before God, so I would argue must man and woman.It does no good for both to work and be blessed, but not respect and love each other.Just as it is pointless to say that they love and respect each other, but never work at it. What holds true for humanity before God holds true for humanity in covenant with each other, and if any of these three facets of human destiny are missing in our relationship with God or with our fellow human beings (especially in our marriages or friendships), then life becomes perverted, twisted, not what God desires for us or for creation, but alas maybe I’m running ahead of myself … I would suggest you pray about your relationship with God in terms of work, blessing and obedience, and then meditate on your relationships with others (especially a spouse, if you have one, or close friends if you don’t) in terms of work, blessing and obedience.True relationships (both with God and with others) in the human destiny that God desires encompass all three of these realities.Work, Blessing, and Obedience. How are you doing?