Placed in the Garden
One of the very first parts of our identity God gives us is to Bring Order to God’s creation.
Genesis 2:15-17, “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die.”
The phrase “… and put him…” is Strong’s H3240 – yaw nakh – it means ‘rest’ in all its forms. To cause to or to make quiet. To be at, to obtain and grant, give, bestow rest.
“… Into the garden…” is Strong’s H1588 – gan – a garden, an enclosure, a protected place. Figuratively used of a bride or chaste woman. From H1598 – gaw nan – to defend, cover, surround. Place of protection and defense.
…”Eden…” – H5731 – ay-den – pleasure. Same as H5730 – luxury, dainty, delight, finery. From H5727 – aw-dan – to luxuriate, delight oneself, gentleness.
Adam and Eve were placed in a in a protected, enclosed area of rest and pleasure. Psalm 23 is a great example of what God continues to do for us. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters (quiet waters of rest). The garden was a safe and good place.
Dress It and Keep It
“…to dress it…” H5647 – aw-bad – to work, labor, serve as subjects. Till, husbandmen, worshiper (to worship God).
“… and keep it…” H8104 – shaw-mar – to keep, guard, observe, give heed, ward, steward, protect, treasure up (memory), to hedge about, tend.
Adam and Eve’s task in the garden was to tend to it as husbandmen and worshippers. Gardens grow, and they can very quickly get out of control. Adam and Eve had the task of bringing order to the garden and to do it as an act of worship and service to God; much like the Levites in the temple.
We are worshippers and our greatest identity is as worshippers of God. All that we do should be done as an act of worship unto the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
The Command and Covenant
Genesis 2:16-17, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 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[f] shall surely die.”
The covenant was that all trees and plants were theirs for food; the command – the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil must not be eaten.
In Genesis 3:3 Eve lost sight of her identity. She forgot who she was, which is why she committed the one sin possible – rebellion.
“… but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
Eve told the serpent that they couldn’t even touch the tree in the center of the garden. That was not God’s command. He said don’t eat it. As a gardener and tender of the garden Adam and Eve would have to touch the tree. Pruning, weeding, tilling the soil. All would require touching the tree and its fruit. Eve forgot her identity and in forgetting who she was she added to God’s word and that opened the door to rebellion and began the fall of man.
Adam was also at fault. Eve was deceived, Adam is a different story. He should have known who and what God called him to do.
Bring order to your garden, whatever that may be. Your home, your job, your school, your life. Whatever God places you in it is your job to bring as much order to it as you can.
If you enjoyed this post consider Buying Me a Cup of Coffee
