In Genesis 2:19-20 the Bible describes Adam's first task on earth. God brought His creatures to Adam to be named. Adam was given the authority to assign a name to each living crea­ture. This naming was not just the simple assigning of a label to a creature. Adam investigated the nature and peculiarity of each creature. In other words, Adam learned to know it. He had one disappointment in this task. "But for Adam there was not found a help meet for him." All creatures brought to Adam lacked a quality which distinguished them to a certain extent from man. Both man and ani­mal were formed from "out of the ground," but all animals lacked the "breath of life." While naming all creatures Adam became aware of this aspect. And God graciously provided man with a help.

Adam was able to perform this task of naming God's creatures because he had been created in the image of God. Endowed with a discerning mind and language to express this knowledge, he fulfilled this task completely. By performing this task he not only learned about God's creation but also about God the Creator and about himself. He was not like the animals. They had to obey him and accept his judgment about them. He could express his opinions of the animals with the gift of language.

Even today the secular scientist acknowledges that one of the main differences between man and animal is this gift of language. Although much money and effort is being spent to prove that animals may have similar capacities for language as man, it cannot be denied that language is a very important aspect of being human.

The gift of language has been important for the material development of man. It allowed man to re-investigate nature after the fall and unlock many of its secrets. Although also in this search the earth has brought forth many thorns and thistles, man has over the centuries discovered many hidden possibilities and opportunities to make life more complicated and diverse. For many this search has not brought more happiness, however. Rather, in many instances it brought more sorrow and sin.

Language has not only allowed man to discover more of God's creation. It also allows him to know more about himself. The discoveries of any individual are not kept to himself. Language allows him to share his discoveries and experiences with others. Instead of having to re-discover everything about life and the world a person can partly rely on the information of others. This is what takes place in a person's education.

Many do not realize the importance of language in our everyday lives. Often words are carelessly used, even though we know that we will be made to account for every deed, word, and thought. Often we do not listen carefully to the words that reach us either. Or we fail to understand the meaning and motives carried with the words. This carelessness both on the part of the speaker and the hearer may cause serious misunderstandings. It may even keep a person from learning important things about himself and his Creator.

Especially in our religious education we have to be careful with the words we use to bring religious matters to the attention of students. Students may form completely wrong ideas about important matters they should know. Or they may think to know particular things without understanding them. If they later on meet others who use similar words but mean completely different things they may become confused or disillusioned. Ultimately they may turn away from religion or seek one that suits their own inclinations better.

It is not surprising that in the Reformation new attention was paid to the importance of the word. God's Word became important again. New translations were made. Preaching became the main aspect of the church service. Discussions among believers were treasured and considered necessary for the further development of knowledge and faith. The Reformers used the printing press to spread their messages. By speaking and writing they brought the message of God's Word to the attention of the people. The very existence of God's Word among us to this day impresses the importance of language on us.

Language has another aspect, too. It re-creates something that was before. It allows us to be involved with something that is not here. In that respect it shows that man is not only taken out of the ground. God has the ultimate power with language. God's words created the world and man in it. When man speaks he only re-creates. This is an important consolation for us. Even with our most sincere words we depend on the creating power of God to bring anything to life. We can leave the most important matters in God's hand.

Satan did not ignore the importance of language either. He used the spoken word to challenge man's obedience to God. Adam and Eve did not stand up to Satan's deceit. Neither do we if God does not prevent it. They accepted his word and suffered the consequences. So God's Word has become a two-edged sword. The one it brings to life; the other it brings to death.

By themselves words will not make a man alive. Yet in the Bible we have many instances where words did bring someone back to life. Some were brought back to temporal life, others were reborn to eternal life. This sometimes happened through the words of sinful humans. Elijah's prayer brought life back in the widow's son. Prayer can bring about great things if God allows these words the divine power God gives to His own words as in Joshua's prayer to stay the sun and moon.

With the fall of man, his first task has not disappeared. He is still called to name the creation and the events in it. This activity, if carried out correctly, will always enrich our knowledge and experience of God and honor Him. But the fall has taken away an important purpose of this task. It often is no longer a task which directs man to God. Instead, man tries to turn it to the glorification of himself and the en­richment of his sinful life. However, this may not stop us from our task. In the education of ourselves and our students we should always look for God's work in what we see, hear and experience. May God use His Word to restore us to fulfill this first task, so that we may learn to discern between good and evil, between God's greatness and Satan's deceptiveness. With the coming of Jesus, the Christ, on earth, a new relation has become possible between fallen man and God. He has also added a completely new meaning to the whole creation and man's place in it. This gives a new scope to man's first task on earth.