God formed man of (not from) the dust of the earth, an earthy man – another man besides the one He had made in Genesis chapter one – by commanding the clay to be made into a man like himself in shape, so, a little whirlwind came up moving within the wet clay. As the whirlwind moved upon the wet clay, a form was coming up starting with a general shape, then the head took shape and its features begun to be distinct. First, the forehead, then the eyes, the nose and finally the mouth and the chin. Next, the neck, the shoulders and the arms appeared. Thirdly, the chest, the stomach, and the lions. Finally, the legs and the feet with toes. So, the form was finished, it was as it were the workmanship of a potter.
Then the Lord breathed into his nostrils the Spirit of life – the quickening power, and the lump of soil became a living body of flesh and blood. As the lump of soil became a body of flesh and blood, a living soul was formed within it, and by that, the man became conscious of himself.
The man was medium in size, not tall and not short, not fat, and not thin. He had a reddish-brown complexion with curly black hair. He had dark/white eyes. His nose was not extra-long, neither was it too short. All the facial features were proportional. Being still younger, he did not have a beard. He was merely a youth, below 18 year’s old in comparison.
After the Lord breathed in his nostril the breath of life, the man slowly gained consciousness as one from sleep, the Lord was sitting by him to start him off. First, his body warmed up followed by a deep breath that lasted a minute or so, then a health sneeze followed by normal breathing.
At the very onset of his consciousness, Adam was like a child, his understanding was like that of a child, so the Lord had to guide him about everything concerning himself. Thus, his perception increased day by day as his understanding of himself and all around him increased.
The Lord held him by hand and Adam opened his eyes like a child from sleep. He was staring in the blue sky… he seemed not to pay any attention to the Lord who had held him by the hand. He wasn’t fully conscious yet. So, he kept staring straight into the air.
There were some few scattered clouds that were passing by which had formed from the mist that had covered the surface of the earth the previous day, so Adam kept staring at them…
“Ada-a-a-m…” the Lord called him as a father calls his baby. “Ada-a-am…”
Adam quietly turned his head to look at the Lord, still not fully conscious, he just stared at him as if he was not aware of him. Then he turned his head back to look straight in the air and closed his eyes again. After a short while he fell into sleep, so the Lord left him for some time.
After an hour or two, the Lord returned to him, and touching his hand, called him by name. “Ada-am, Ada-am…”
Adam opened his eyes and looked around with a child-like surprise. His lips seemed to move, but no sound came out. Then he moved his tongue over his leaps like a child with his eyes fixed on the face of the Lord. He didn’t seem to understand anything, not himself, not the Lord nor the environment. He was just there, a living soul in a body of flesh lying on his back upon a bear ground.
The atmosphere was warm and serene. A few scattered clouds were moving eastward. A cool breeze blew upon the face of the wet ground. There was no other sign of life upon the ground besides Adam. Yes, he was the firstborn of all the creatures of Eden.
“Ada-a-am…” the Lord pads him on his cheek. “You are called Adam… my son, you are, this day have I made thee and called you Adam.”
“Hmm…” Adam makes some positive sound of acknowledgement, still yet to fully come to himself. He was gaining consciousness slowly but steadily.
“Adam, look upon me… Your name is Adam… a man whom I have made.” The Lord said as he pulled his hand. The man turned and fixed his eyes on him.
“A-ah…” Adam opens his mouth like one half awake, with a child-like curiosity displayed on his face. He was still lying on his back. He kept padding his eyes but remained motionless. Only his head moved to look upon the face of the Lord, quietly.
“Ada-a-am… that is your name, and you are a man like me. Look at me…”
Adam looks upon the face of the Lord in a surveying manner, just like a child would look upon the face of his father. By now he was almost fully conscious.
“Do you see me? I am the Lord your God who has formed you today. Your name is Adam. You are a man, a living soul.”
Adam smiled and moved his legs and feet like he wanted to sit up, so the Lord assisted him by pulling his hand. Adam sat quietly looking around.
“Here you are,” the Lord continues to help him to come to himself, “the man that I have formed. And I have called your name Ada-a-am. What is your name?”
The man looks on with signs of a smile on his face… his lips trying to say something which could not come out.
“You are seated upon the ground from whence I have taken you… I am the Lord your maker…” the Lord pads his cheek… a tender touch.
“Your name is Adam… say, ‘Ada-am’…”
Adam smiled as one who is ignorant of himself and everything else.
“Your name is Adam… say, ‘Ada-am’… I have made you out of this ground, you are mine … a man… I am your God… stay here for some times, I will be back.”
The Lord left the man seated on the ground and went up the mountain. The man fixed his eyes on the Lord till he disappeared among the big stones. He remained seated quite for some times. Sometimes ignorantly smiling to himself… he had no knowledge of anything, not even of himself.
The Lord kept away most of that day, leaving the man to himself. Some times in the afternoon, the man struggled and finally stood up on his feet, tried to balanced, but fearing he sat down with his palms first touching the ground.
The ground was bear, the soil was wet, stones were scattered all over. Finally, he stood again, made a few steps, and finally sat on a stone. He kept staring at the stones, the bear ground and the sky and smiling to himself.
Towards the evening, the Lord returned to him and found him still in the vicinity of where he had left him. He was still ignorant of all things around him. Once in a while he could try to stare at the sun, but the rays being sharp, he quickly would turn his eyes away while rubbing them with the back of his palm.
The man replies, “Adi-i-ma.”
“Good, I said, ‘Ada-a-am.’ What is your name?”
“Ado-a-amu…”
“Good! Say, ‘Ada-am’”
“Ada-amu…”
“Adam…”
“Adaamu”
“Adamu”
“Adam…”
“Adam…”
“Adam is your name… that is what you are. A man called Adam. That is your name. And you are a ma-a-an… Who are you?”
“Adam…”
“No! That is your name. Adam. But you are a creature called ma-a-an. Who are you?”
“A creature?…”
“I said you are a man, a creature called man. Who are you?”
“A ma-a-ani…”
“Good! A ma-a-am. Say it again.”
“A ma-a-ani…”
“Good! A ma-a-an…”
“A ma-a-an…”
“That is it! That is what you are. A man… say it…”
“A ma-an…”
“A man.”
“A man.”
“Wonderful! What is your name?”
“A ma-a-an…”
“No! That is who you are. A man. But your name is Adam. What is your name…?”
“Adamu…”
“Good! You are Adam. You are called Adam. Adam.”
“Adam…”
“That is it!”
“But who are you?”
“A creature?”
“Yes, a creature called what?”
“A man…”
“Wonderful! You are a man called Adam. Who are you and what is your name?”
“Adam, a creature called man…?”
“Yes, that is it!” The Lord exclaimed joyfully. The man finally had known who he was and what his name was. The Lord took him by hand and brought him into a land eastward in Eden. There the Lord commanded, and a garden came out, a garden of precious things, just a paradise it was!
Of course, it never just appeared like a miracle, but the plants grew from the ground and increased day by day. The vegetation that the Lord commanded the ground to bring forth consisted of grass and herbs. Also, a perimeter wall came up to enclose the garden, and some structures also appeared. The main structure was a tabernacle which appeared upon the highest hill. The garden covered a large place enclosing several hills.
As the man beheld that, his heart was so much filled with flames of joy that he found himself uttering words of praise and thanksgiving, worshipping the Lord God for the first time. The sight of the garden revived his spirit in him, and he broke forth into worship without being taught.
“Oh, Lord my God! How wonderful art thou! How glorious is thy name! How precious is thy word! For by the commandments, wonderful things are wrought, and at the voice of thy word, they all come to thee. They were not, but as soon as thou had called, they appeared! Oh Lord my God, how glorious is thy name!”
This pure fragrance of incense from the heart of man pleased the Lord so much that He felt so good in His heart that He had made man in flesh.
Then in the presence of the man, the Lord God commanded trees to grow from the ground, trees bearing fruit and plants bearing fragrant flowers. They grew within a short time, and some began to put on fruits. Then the Lord said to the man:
“See, I have planted this garden for you by the word of my mouth, as thou hast seen. It is the word from my mouth which has brought forth all these trees, herbs and grass. You have seen with your eyes that it is I who has done all these things with no one else with me. I am the Lord your God. Therefore, thou shall fear me, obey me, keep my commandments, and serve me according to my word.
“By this same word I commanded, and heaven and earth were made. Heaven is all that is above you, and that is the throne of your God, earth is all that under the sky, and it is my footstool. I command and it appears, I am the Lord and no one else is besides me.
“Behold, I have put the language of all words in your heart, and thou shalt know all things that are seen with eyes.”
The man said, “A-a-amen!” Without being taught. He got surprised at himself how he seemed to know what he had said.
“That is it!” The Lord said. “That is what I have said to you, that I have put in your heart all my words concerning all things that exist with you. And if you obey me and keep my word, it shall come to pass that thou shalt know my name and shall then behold my glory. I shall not be made known to you at once, but instead thou shall progressively know me. The more you obey my word, the more you will know me and the more I will show you my glory. For now you are but a child, my child, but if you keep my commandments and obey my voice then you will grow and increase in my wisdom and I write in you my name. But now I have revealed myself to you in a form like yourself because you are still a child.
“Indeed thou art still but a baby, and that which I have made known unto you about myself is but milk for babes; and the way that I lay before you now is the law of commandments to keep you from the way of the wicked. As you walk in my words according to my commandments, thou shall mature into a man full of wisdom, then will I reveal the truth to you.”
Then the Lord God led the man to the top of the holy mountain and stood with him against the topmost rock. And the Lord commanded that a river of water may gush forth out of the rock and flow in four directions: towards the east, the south, the west and the north and it was so. Therefore, He spoke to the man and said:
“See, at my word I command, and it happens, I alone can do such things, bringing things out of nothing. So by my word I made the heavens in the heights of glory that you see above your head. By my word also created I the earth and all its fullness, even the ground upon which you stand, it appeared by my commandment. Also, the stars, the moon and the sun which shine upon the earth from the heights of heaven, I commanded and they came out from nothing. That is what my commandment can do; therefore, thou shalt fear me and keep my commandments, for by the same commandment I made thee and formed thee from the dust of the ground. I am the Lord your God that commandeth and it is done. Therefore, thou shalt fear me and obey my voice.”
Then the Lord took the man and placed him on top of the rock from under which the great fountain had gushed and broke out into four great rivers. And the Lord showed the man the four great rivers as they made their way towards the sea. The eastern river towards to east sea, the southern river towards the south sea, the western river towards the west sea and the northern river towards the North Sea. And behold, they were mighty rivers carrying vast amounts of water that gushed from under the topmost rock upon the holy mountain that was in Eden. Then the Lord said unto the man:
“I am the Lord your God; thou shall have no other God besides me. Thou shall not obey any other voice against my word, for thou hast seen with your own eyes what my word can do, that thou should know that it is I who hast made all these things. I command and they are done. I am the Lord. Besides me there is no one else. All that you see and hear are but creatures that my word has made, no matter how glorious they appear in your eyes, they are still mere creatures that I have made for you. And it will come to pass that if thou shalt obey all my commandments which I command you this day then I will write in you my name and I will give you to inherit all these things. I will glorify you and put your throne above everything in heaven or on earth. Thou shalt be king over all that I have made.”
Then the Lord brought him down from the high mountain after He had been transfigured before him, and the man beheld and lo, His face did shine like the sun and His raiment like light. A cloud of glory overshadowed them both, and a voice from the cloud said:
“This is my beloved son, the very Word from my bosom, whatsoever He commands you take the most earnest heed to it. I am the eternal God, and by Him have I made all things. For your own good therefore fear and obey him.”
By this time the man had followed upon his face in fear. Then the Lord came and touched him saying, “Fear not, for your sake has my Father shown you His glory that His fear may always remain in your heart to obey His commandments. Arise and let us go.”
Then they descended the mountain together until they reached the valley below. The Lord called unto the man again and said, “Behold, thou shalt see today the glory of the Lord your God, for by His Word He shall bring forth new things which thou hast not seen hitherto.”
And the Lord spoke and said, “Let the waters of the four rivers bring forth birds after their kind, whales also and every fish after his kind.”
And they stood there together for sometimes looking towards the river that went eastward. Then after sometimes winged creatures began to fly out of the rivers after their kind, so many! They came out in different colours and sizes, both male and female and they patched themselves upon the branches of trees all over. Each pair was singing their own language. It was marvelous. The man was so touched that he equally broke out into songs of praise, praising the name of the Lord for His wonderful works.
After that, as they strolled together in the fields of Eden, suddenly, the Lord said unto him again, today thou shalt see the glory of the Lord. These things are done before your eyes that you may know the glory of Lord and that you may fear Him and obey His word always. So, the took the most earnest heed and he kept expecting some new thing.
So, it came to pass that as the Lord sat upon the hill overlooking the holy mountain on the eastern side, He stood up and commanded with a loud voice saying:
“Let the ground bring forth cattle after their kind, beasts after their kind, and creeping things.”
Then He sat down again and they talked communing about the things that God had already done. The man kept inquiring about this and that. Then allover a certain creatures began to appear from the ground. First cattle after their kind, then beasts of all kinds and finally creeping. They came out all in pairs, the male and the female. The Lord showed the man all these things and said:
“Have you seen what the power of God’s Word can do? All the works that I have done, it is not I who does them but my Father who dwells in me. He inspires me and I obey Him and speak the word. Then He quickens the same word and makes it bring out what He speaks by me. I have done these things in your presence so that you may see the glory of my Father who dwells in me, and that you may fear and obey His commandments always. Now I am with you showing you all these things, that you may take the most earnest heed to learn of me. Keep these words in your heart and never turn from them to the left or to the right. God’s Word is His commandment, and the keeping of it means your life and peace but if you disobey Him it means death and destruction. Never compromise about any of His words, for you have seen with your own eyes the things that God’s Word does.
“I have chosen you and placed you above all things that are in this garden, that you should keep all by the Word that I have taught you and will teach you. By holding firmly on my words thou shalt waft away all powers of the evil one, and none of the wicked shall prevail over you. Watch and pray, as I have shown you, to keep your lights burning to walk in the paths that I have shown while I am with you. For time comes when I will be taken from you for a little season that ye may be tested and tried whether thou wilt keep God’s Word and obey His commandments or not. Take heed to yourself and hold firmly every commandment that I shall command you as long as I am away. And when I return from my Father, and thou would have kept all my words, then I will glorify you as my Father hath glorified me, to seat upon the same throne with me in the heavens. Have I not commanded you.”
Then the Lord continued and said:
“See, I have put a language of words in your mouth, a language having all the names and the actions of things and their goodness. Whatever you see, the name shall come in your heart and your tongue shall be inspired to speak it. And whatever you speak shall be the name of that creature. Behold this record is in your heart, because in thee are all things upon the earth. If you stand, they all stand and if you fall they all fall. Take the most earnest heed then to all that you have heard from me, for all these days since I formed thee have I walked before you in the light of my Father, that you may learn His ways.”
Then the Lord caused to pass before Adam every moving creature beginning with the birds and then the cattle, the beasts and finally the creeping things. Adam found a name for each one out of his own heart, and thus all were recorded in him, and the same was a book of life, the life of moving creatures.
Then the Lord said unto Adam.
“I am the Lord your God who has formed you, so you are my son. Thou shalt walk before me and keep my charge. And this is the commandment that thou shalt keep all the days of thy life: you have seen that from the ground I have caused to grow every tree that is good for food and pleasant to the eyes, and I have shown you all that is good for food, both for your mouth and for your eyes. You have also seen that in the midst of this garden are two notable trees different from all other trees: the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
“These two notable trees are here for a purpose. The tree of life is it which shall give you everlasting life, when you will be allowed to eat from it. But this is the way of the tree of life, that you can only eat of it after you have overcome and subdued the gates of hell by obeying the commandments of God. For it is noted in the script of truth that he that overcomes the same shall be given to eat of the tree of life. And again, blessed are they who keep the commandments of God, for they shall be allowed to eat from the tree of life. Therefore, it shall come to pass when thou hast fully obeyed the word of God that I command you today that you will have a right to the tree of life.
“Therefore, of all the trees in this garden, trees growing from the ground, thou shall freely eat but the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it. If you disobey my commandment and put forth your hand and eat of that tree, thou shalt surely die and return to this ground from whence you were made. Take heed and hearken unto me today. Keep your hand far from the fruit of the tree of knowledge!”
“Why then was this tree allowed into this garden?” The man thought loudly.
“Yes, it was deliberately allowed to prove you whether you are willing to keep God’s Word or not. By that tree what is in your heart shall be known. If indeed you fear the Lord your God with all your heart, you will keep away from that tree and you will be secure in all your ways. You will dwell in this good place in peace, comforted and rested as it is today. But if you will disobey the commandments of the Lord your God and put your hand out and eat of the tree of knowledge, you will be driven out of this good land into the land of the shadow of death, and shall you labour in hard bondage all the days of your life until you die and return to the ground from where you were taken. Take care of yourself and touch not the fruit of knowledge, for thou shalt live by faith in the Word of God.
“All that I command you today thou shall believe and obey, and by that thou shalt live and not die. Then it shall come to pass in the fullness of time, when thou would have overcome all your enemies by faith in this Word that I will visit you and bless you and glorify you to sit with me upon my throne.”
With that the Lord left the man on his own for some season. The man was alone, he had no other man to talk to or fellowship with. All others were beasts, cattle and creeping things. Each of these moving creatures were made in pairs: the male and the female, but Adam was the only man in existence and he was both male and female in himself but he never knew. So, all those days when the Lord was away, he stayed alone, having no one to talk to. He felt quite lonely as he saw beasts, cattle, creeping things and birds each having a partner.
After so long a time the Lord visited him again to commune with him and to see how he had faired on in keeping the commandments of the Lord. He found Adam with his spirits down. He was not as happy as at first. The Lord discerned the problem. Adam was lonely because he had no likeminded person to commune with. So, the Lord brought upon him a very deep sleep, then He broke one rib from his side and closed the flesh. From the rib the Lord made a woman in glory and image of the man. Then He brought the woman to man and said:
“Here is your partner, a help meet for you. I have made her out of your rib that I have broken from your side. Lead her and guide her in the way that I have shown you. The commandments which I have taught you, teach her and ensure she observes them.
“Particularly, let her keep away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for the knowledge from that tree is a seed of discrepancy. It is the knowledge of whoredom which fights to exalt itself above the knowledge of God.
“If she will keep away from that tree, then when the season of life arrives, you will be allowed to fellowship upon the tree of life. By that fellowship, she will conceive and bring forth a son who’s going forth is from everlasting. By that son and through that son God will accomplish His will on earth as it is in heaven. Therefore, hearken unto all the words that I have commanded you this day and never eat anything that comes from that tree, for the son that shall be born of you shall be a Nazarene from her womb, so must she keep herself virgin to bring forth the holy one of God.
“Adam, Adam…” the Lord looked at the man with stern eyes.
“Here am I, Lord…”
“Remember you are responsible to keep her in the Word! I have made her out of your rib implying that you are her head, for she is part of your body. As the head, you are fully responsible for all that she does. You must watch over her and direct all her ways. That is your most honourable responsibility. Besides watching over the whole garden to ensure all things stay under the Word, you are responsible to ensure that your partner keeps the whole commandment.
“Be strong and fight the good fight, for your enemies are all around, and they will take advantage of your partner, yet I have girded you with the Word on all sides. So long you stand firm with the Word, you will overcome all. It is I who has commanded you; this commandment is my Word, keep it for salvation of your soul from all your enemies.
“Behold, I go away for some season, that thou and thy helpmate may be tested whether you will keep the Lord’s commandments or not. Take heed to yourselves and let nothing from that tree come upon your tongue. Keep away from that cursed thing. Never listen to any creature that comes by telling you to eat of the fruit of that tree, for it is the fruit of the seed of idolatry. It is a thing most corrupting. It is the fruit of the liar. It is a source of lies and corruptions. After you have been tested, and after the season of your temptation is over, I return to you with my reward in my hand. Stay in the path of the light of truth and God will reward you bountifully.”
With that, the Lord left them and went up into the holy Mountain.
Echoes From Paradise 