Another Creation Story

Today, we read another version of the biblical Creation Story. It does not begin in Genesis 2:1, but in Genesis 2:4. The perspective is totally earthly. There was no big bang, no sun, no moon nor any stars in the heavens. There were no seas, only rivers, a garden, plants and herbs. The vision and horizon are not as grand as that found in Genesis 1 which was supposed to be penned by scribes or priests. There is no more chorus. Genesis 2 seems to come from the grassroots.
when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up -- for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to till the ground (Genesis 2:5).
This is the experience of farmers who know all too well that their harvest depends on rainfall from heavens. Hard work alone is not enough. On the other hand, it is also an affirmation of the dignity of work. Without man tilling the ground, no rain can bring forth any plant or herb. The author knew very well the importance of keeping a harmonious relation with God. It is a matter of life and death. However, man played a no less important role in bringing about life on earth. Without man, the world was inanimate, lifeless. In short, man is the centre of Creation, whereas in Genesis 1, man is the apex of Creation.
There is also another peculiarity in the vocabulary of Genesis 2. Starting from Genesis 2:4, God is not just Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) but Yahweh Elohim (יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים). In English, it was translated as the LORD God. Therefore, since 17^th century, biblical scholars have come to the conclusion that the author of the so called "Five Books of Moses" was actually an editor who strung together different traditions and filled in the gaps to give us the Pentateuch we have today.
First of all, water came up to moisten the land.
but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground (Genesis 2:6).
Then, God made man (הָאָדָם) out of the dust from the ground (מִן-הָאֲדָמָה).
then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7).
We see that in Hebrew man and ground is the same word ha'adam. Later the first man was called Adam (Genesis 3:17). However, Genesis 2 does not say that man possesses the nobility of the image and likeness of God. Rather, man was as lowly as the dust from the ground, truly a grassroot creature. He came from dust and to dust he would return. This has been the reality of the destiny of man. No matter what, God was the origin of both water and man. Together they generated life on earth.
What about the mission given to man?
God planted a garden in Eden and put the man there (Genesis 2:8).
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it (Genesis 2:15).
The mission is to till and keep the garden. Though it is no longer a dominion over the sky, the seas and the land (Genesis 1:27), the idea of environment protection is still there. Yet, life is not boring. The Author of Life has laid down a command for the human drama to unfold in the future.
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "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." (Genesis 2:16-17)
Man was a vegetarian. He could eat freely but there was a forbidden fruit which symbolizes God's command. Modern men like to challenge this idea and blame God for laying a trap to ensnare Adam. Why made a forbidden fruit if God knew in advance that Adam would succumb to temptation and eat it? Can this be love?
I have no satisfactory explanation. I think that Adam was not mature enough to eat it. Probably, some time in the future, Adam would be mature enough to eat this fruit of knowledge of good and evil. But Adam ate it too soon.

My Lord, I am but dust and to dust I will return. I am grateful that You give me life, sustain me and want me to make good use of it. I pray that I may partake in Your eternal life in the future. Amen.