Genesis chapters 1 and 2 have been a bit of a mystery in that they appear to be in conflict with one another. However, now that we understand DNA, these two chapters converge into one creation account that is logically and chronologically perfect.

Genesis 1 documents the order of creation. Genesis chapter 2, on the other hand, documents the order in which life was given to the creation: the activation.

Everything was created before the seventh day, but the plants had not been planted and neither animals nor man had been given the breath of life; they were dormant. The Bible is clear, God rested on the seventh day; if God had given man life on the sixth day, God could not have rested on the seventh; He wouldn’t abandon Adam nor would He want to miss Adam’s first day of life; but, after God rested, He formed Adam from the earth in accordance with the DNA created and selected on day 6; then, God gave Adam the breath of life and he, Adam, became a living soul.

This notion is further supported by the parable of the farmer who planted his field with good seed and then rested (Matthew 13:24). As the farmer rested, the seeds had not yet started growing, they were still dormant, still in seed form. This is the way it was on day 7 of creation; everything was created, ready for activation, but dormant. Then, in Genesis chapter 2, after God rested, He took the DNA created on day 6 and formed man, and breathed life into him. For those of you who study Hebrew, you will see that the word used in Genesis 1 is different from the one used in Genesis 2. The word used in Genesis 1 is “bara” having the sense of selecting, and in Genesis 2 the word “yatsar” has the sense of forming or squeezing into shape much like a potter forming his pot.

Here is some of the Genesis 2 account of the creation which shows that the materials were available, the plans were complete, and then came the activation in according to the Creators design and purpose. Please consider the following excerpts from Genesis 2:

Genesis 2:5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up–for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,

Genesis 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Genesis 2:19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.

Genesis 2:20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. . (ESV)

So, Adam was given life first, then the plants, then the animals. It all makes sense.

This also explains Genesis 5:2 which has been a mystery until now:

Genesis 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. (KJV)

He created them male and female and called their name Adam. He called their name Adam. Adam embodied all human genetic variation. Your genes, my genes, everyone’s genes were in Adam. We were all created on day 6 and God called our name “Adam;” the name “Adam” means “man.” It goes on to say “in the day when they were created.” Again, the they is we. Our DNA was created on day six, but we were formed and given life in our mother’s womb.

Dear friends and children, know that the Bible is true and can be trusted. Genesis chapters one and two are logically and chronologically perfect.