The Lord's Prayer
Daily Bible Studies for the Week of June 22, 2009
This Week’s Scripture: Genesis 2:4b-25 NLT
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. The LORD God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil. 6Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land. 7Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. 8Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10A river watered the garden and then flowed out of Eden and divided into four branches. 11The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. 14The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates.
15The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden17—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” 18Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 19So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.
21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
23“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone,
and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” 24This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 25Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Monday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us! As we turn to a more in depth look at your creation of human beings, I pray that You will use this week to help me gain a better understanding of the sanctity of human life and marriage in Your eyes, and to live more faithfully as Your follower. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5neither wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth. The LORD God had not yet sent rain to water the earth, and there were no people to cultivate the soil. 6Instead, springs came up from the ground and watered all the land. Genesis 2:4b-6 NLT
How is this account of the creation of the earth similar to and different from Genesis 1:1-2:4a?
Why do you think both accounts are included?
Today’s Challenge: I will live this day in the recognition that God has established humanity as the pinnacle of His creation and will show respect to everyone around me as a result!
Tuesday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating us and for giving us such a vast array of plant life from which to produce food and shelter as well as to enjoy! I pray that You will give me wisdom today to be a faithful steward of all that you have created and entrusted into my care. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
7Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. 8Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9The LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:7-9 NLT
Why do you think God would create a “tree of life” and a “tree of the knowledge of good and evil”?
Today’s Challenge: I will take time today to notice and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and to give Him thanks for it!
Wednesday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for including details in Your word that show me that it isn’t just for “pie in the sky in the by and by,” but that it is for the everyday realities of this life as well! The record of the rivers in the Garden of Eden help me to understand that you created a real world, in a real place for all of us to live, and that Your presence in our lives is real as well! Thank You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
10A river watered the garden and then flowed out of Eden and divided into four branches. 11The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. 14The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates. Genesis 2:10-14 NLT
What is the significance of Moses including the names of the rivers and their surroundings in today’s Scripture readings?
Today’s Challenge: I will live today with the recognition that God cares about the details of life—and that He interacts with me within them!
Thursday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for the boundaries You have established in our lives! Thank You for telling us in Your word what will help us and what will harm us. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today that I may live obediently within those boundaries! This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
15The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden17—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Genesis 2:15-17 NLT
Why do you think God put a tree in the middle of the garden that was forbidden to the man?
Today’s Challenge: I will live in the power of the Holy Spirit so that I may be obedient to God’s commands in my life!
Friday
Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, I thank You for ordering life such that we are not alone! Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may live in love and accountability with those in my family and my church family, and that I may be a faithful witness to others around me of Your desire that we all be in relationship with You and them through Jesus! Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
18Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 19So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. Genesis 2:18-20 NLT
Why do you think that God created all the animals BEFORE creating another human being?
Today’s Challenge: I will live with love for God and my neighbor!
Saturday
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You that You ordered and established marriage in the fabric of creation! I pray that You will bless and strengthen the marriages of all people, and particularly of families who call Jesus their Savior and Lord. This I pray in His name. Amen.
Reflection on God’s Word:
21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 23“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” 24This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 25Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2:21-25 NLT
What does this passage tell us about the importance of marriage to God?
What does it tell us about what is required to have a healthy marriage?
Today’s Challenge: (If married): I will live with love toward my spouse, and
(whether married or not): I will pray for God to strengthen the marriages of everyone around me!