The first question recorded of God is in Genesis 3, way back in the Garden of Eden, when He asks Adam where he’s hiding. But we notice a subtle, indirect teaching question before that even! 

In Genesis chapter 2, after God had created the world, and man, and put man in the Garden, and after He had given the first “Thou shalt not,” we find God teaching man to think. But notice,  “Thou shalt not,” that rule, is put in the midst of you may . . . “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (NLT, Genesis 2:16-17, emphasis added) It is sad that when reading a story of God’s abundant blessing and provision, we first notice the one do not, the one restriction. In verse 9 we are told that God made all sorts of trees grow up, “trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit,” lots of delicious fruit, but we focus on the one no. 

Anyway, after creating the man and a place for him, providing for him, God gives him direction--eat (God sounds so much like a mother there. “Eat, eat!” “Don’t put that in your mouth, Johnny.”) 

18 Then 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.” 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man[c] to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He 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.

Then God says man needs a helper. Interesting that the first, perfect person needs a helper, a partner. Creation is not good unless people are in relationships. Not necessarily a bunch of people, a crowd, as God decided a helper, not a bunch of helpers, was needed. But God does not immediately make one. First, He brings all the animals and birds to the man “to see what he would call them.” That is a question. What are you going to name them?

Part of that is relationship building. My mentor is always reminding me that a good way to develop friendships, to get to know people, is to ask questions. Questions can start conversations. God was actively, intentionally developing a relationship with Adam! Christianity (and prayer) is not just a list of rules but relationship and conversation.

I had always thought of God having man name the animals and birds as Him delegating His authority. And it is that, but more. To name the animals, Adam would have studied the animals. God was teaching Adam, encouraging or provoking him to learn. 

But not just about the animals, this was not just a zoology class (though that would be incredible). Studying creation can (should) produce worship. I am reminded of Psalm 8, and 19: 

The heavens declare the glory of God;

    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

    night after night they reveal knowledge.

They have no speech, they use no words;

    no sound is heard from them.

Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,

    their words to the ends of the world.

Proverbs tells us to learn from ants and spiders and other creatures. Jesus used birds to teach us (like in Matthew 6). 

But there was more. This, God having man name the animals and birds, is in the context of God saying man needed a helper. It seems God was using the animals and birds to teach Adam about relationships. How do you socialize the first man? 

Does this indirect question mean anything to us, or is it just history? There is the invitation to see God’s glory in creation. That is a good reminder. Whether in gardening, studying science, caring for pets, enjoying the world during walks, creation inspires worship. But the animals and birds in Adam’s case were his co-workers and neighbors and also the situations and events that flowed through life. What do I name, call the people, the situations, the issues that God brings my way? Do I call that person a distraction or interruption? Is that chore a blessing or a curse? Am I looking for Jesus in the flow of life or looking at every situation through the lens of how it involves me, making me the center of the universe? What do I call that situation, that artwork of God’s? Jesus starts the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, a list of renaming, of concepts. First He calls the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, etc. blessed, not punished. He then names the disciples as blessed and as salt and light. And then His sermon turns to warning against insults being as bad as murder (insults are harsh names) and to love our enemies. 

Way back after 9/11, Jesus taught me a stern lesson about that. I was cleaning a shop where the workers had posted a picture of our favorite enemy/villain on a dartboard. Seeing it I laughed, and then Jesus simply asked me how I would feel if I saw a picture of Eliana, my daughter, used as a dartboard. I am reminded when God so loved the world, the world includes every individual. About that time God called me to become apolitical--not because I do not have opinions but because so much of political conversations digress into people bashing. The term people bashing is reminiscent of Cain bashing Abel. On the positive side, when we name children, pets, cars, whatever, we pick aspects we like about them or hopes for them or references to other people or things we admire. 

But God’s question is not just about people but life situations. Is that phone call an interruption or an opportunity? Is this situation hindering or training me? Obstacle courses are full of hindrances, they would be easier, faster to run without them. The amazing thing is while what I call something is not magic, does not change the situation or person, it does affect my attitude. My boss has asked me to work Sunday mornings. I can see it has horrible--losing out on church. I could focus on the opportunity to make more money, making money my god. Or I can call it an opportunity to minister to that family. When God asks us to name something, He is giving us a choice of attitude through what lens or Center (God) we choose. So choose who is the center of your universe and name things accordingly. 

notes--May 5, beatitudes, Jesus names

What is good?