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Paralleling A Search for God, Book I – Lesson on Cooperation
Date: January 12, 1939
Bible Reading: Genesis 2
In this chapter, we see God seeking cooperation from man in fulfilling the purpose of creation. Cayce emphasizes that creation was goodly and godly, and that man’s role was to cooperate with God’s intent.
Key Verses
Genesis 2:7 –
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Cayce: The first promise to man – that God’s creation became a living soul.
Genesis 2:9 –
“And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
Man was given the privilege of choosing. Cayce interprets the Tree of Knowledge as self-indulgence, leading to man’s undoing.
Genesis 2:11-14 –
Mention of lands, rivers, and gold.
Cayce: Ezra copied these records, connecting them to places his people knew. The Garden of Eden is described with wide boundaries, perhaps symbolic of the limits of understanding at that time.
Genesis 2:15 –
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
Evidence of God’s method of cooperation – working with man. Cayce links this to Jesus’ words: “I am the vine, ye are the branches.”
Genesis 2:16-17 –
The command regarding the Tree of Knowledge.
Cayce: Cooperation is obedience to God’s command. The lack of it caused man’s downfall.
Genesis 2:19-25 –
Creation of woman, union of man and wife.
Cayce: Adam named animals according to their association. Only when he realized his own lack of a mate did God create woman – a reminder to look within for answers.
Other Scriptures Cited
Proverbs 8:22-32
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.”
Cayce: All souls were with God before the earth was formed. Cooperation with God is rooted in our eternal origin.
John 14:10-15
“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?... If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Cayce: Jesus is the perfect example of cooperation between Son and Father.
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
“The word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”
Cayce: Cooperation is found by turning within. God’s presence is internal, not external.
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Cayce: The “Word” is Christ, the divine pattern of perfect cooperation.
Hebrews 5:8
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”
Cayce: Disobedience was the first sin. Cooperation requires making our will one with God’s will.
Cayce’s Interpretations and Notes
Adam and Eve: Perfectly made, not sinful in union. Sin arose only through disobedience and indulgence of thought forms (temptations).
Satan/Thought Forms: Seen as externalized desires; Eve fell to temptation, Adam followed. Realization of nakedness symbolized awareness of separation from God.
Animals and Symbolism: Adam’s naming reflected relationships. The goose as a symbol of loyalty—one mate for life—contrasts with man’s tendency to distort creation.
Lesson on Cooperation
Definition: Cooperation = Obedience to God’s will.
Method: Seek God within; align personal will with Divine will.
Application:
Recognize that disobedience leads to shame and separation, while cooperation brings harmony with creation and Creator.
Christ’s Example: Jesus embodied perfect cooperation with the Father, showing humanity the way back to oneness.
Study Guide: Cooperation
Based on Edgar Cayce Bible Minutes (262-61 Supplement, 1/12/1939)
Paralleling A Search for God, Book I – Lesson 1
1. Introduction
Theme: Cooperation is the alignment of human will with Divine will. In Genesis 2, God seeks man’s cooperation in caring for creation and in obedience. Cayce interprets this as the eternal principle of working with God, rather than against Him.
2. Genesis 2 – Key Verses with Commentary
Genesis 2:7
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Cayce: This is the first promise to man: that man is more than flesh, but a living soul—a reflection of God’s Spirit.
Lesson: True cooperation begins when we recognize our divine nature as souls, not just physical beings.
Genesis 2:9
“The tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
Cayce: Represents the choice given to man—life in harmony with God, or self-indulgence and separation.
Lesson: Cooperation requires choosing God’s way over selfish gratification.
Genesis 2:11-14
Descriptions of lands and rivers.
Cayce: Ezra likely copied these passages, linking them to places his people knew. The Garden may represent a vast symbolic area of creation, not one fixed location.
Lesson: Cooperation spans all creation. Man’s role is universal, not confined to a single land.
Genesis 2:15
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
Cayce: This shows God’s method of cooperation—working with man to care for creation. Jesus echoes this: “I am the vine, ye are the branches.”
Lesson: Cooperation is a partnership with God in stewardship and service.
Genesis 2:16-17
“Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it…”
Cayce: Cooperation is obedience. Disobedience leads to separation and suffering.
Lesson: To cooperate with God is to trust His wisdom, even when our desires suggest otherwise.
Genesis 2:19-25
Creation of animals and woman.
Cayce: Adam names animals by their associations, realizing his own need for a mate. God creates woman from within him. This teaches us to look within for answers.
Lesson: Cooperation extends to relationships. Harmony between man and woman reflects Divine intent.
3. Supporting Scriptures
Proverbs 8:22-32
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.”
Cayce: All souls were with God before creation. Cooperation is rooted in our eternal connection to Him.
John 14:10-15
“I am in the Father, and the Father in me… If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
Cayce: Jesus shows perfect cooperation between Son and Father.
Lesson: We too can cooperate by loving obedience to Christ’s example.
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
“The word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”
Cayce: True cooperation is found within. God’s Word (Christ) is near, dwelling in the heart.
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Cayce: The Word (Christ) is the pattern for cooperation from the very beginning.
Hebrews 5:8
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”
Cayce: Even Christ’s perfection was shown through obedience. Disobedience (lack of cooperation) caused man’s fall.
4. Cayce’s Interpretive Notes
Adam and Eve: Their union was not sinful. Sin came from disobedience and indulgence in thought-forms (temptations).
Satan as Thought Form: Symbolizes desires externalized and made appealing.
Animals: Adam’s naming symbolizes relationship. The goose (one mate for life) is a symbol of faithful cooperation.
5. Lesson on Cooperation – Summary
Definition: Cooperation is aligning the human will with God’s will.
Method: Seek God within. Practice obedience and service.
Application:
In choices (Tree of Life vs. self-indulgence)
In stewardship (caring for creation)
In relationships (man and woman in harmony)
Christ’s Example: Perfect cooperation with the Father shows the way back to oneness with God.
Reflection Question:
Where in my life am I resisting cooperation with God’s will? How can I, like Christ, say: “Not my will, but Thine be done”?
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