Or, A Most Amazing Garden

Genesis 2:8—19

Have you stopped to consider what a perfect illustration of grace the Garden of Eden is?  Think about this:  the man our God created was invited in to enjoy all the fullness of God and of God’s marvelous creation.  I do not think it is a stretch to view this Garden as a type of the provision God has made for man in Christ.

1.  God’s gracious provision

• It was a garden.  The Hebrew really means “an enclosure,” a safe place.  This was created especially for man; a beautiful and safe place.  This reminds us of the Covenant made with Christ before the world was.  He was the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world!  (Ephesians 1:4)
• It was planted by the Lord.  It was all a work of that Master Gardner; man had absolutely no role in the creation of his Garden.  This, like God’s plan of salvation, is a work of God.  Jonah 2:9 makes this plain statement:  “Salvation if of the Lord.”  Both the “plant” and the planting are His alone.
• It was planted for man.  Think about this:  God had the welfare of man in mind the whole time.  In the planting of every tree, the creation of every animal was the consideration of man’s every need.  Indeed, God had considered man’s need for satisfaction and contentment in every aspect of His creation.  All the eternal forethought of God in our behalf is seen in the fullness that dwells in Christ.  In Christ is God’s every provision for man’s eternal needs.  Look at these blessings:

• 1. The tree of life.  This amazing tree stood in the middle of the Garden.  Life is the very first need of every man:  “I have come to give you life,” said Jesus (John 10:10).  This was the tree of eternal life to Adam.  Before Adam could die, he had to be driven from the Garden, from the tree of life.  To be without Christ is to be without any hope at all.
  2. Every tree was pleasant.  Adam found pleasure in God’s creation.  In God’s provision for us in Christ, there is every good and pleasant thing.  Anything worth having in life is found in Christ.
  3. Every tree was good for food.  There may be many pleasures in the world that do not satisfy, but God’s provision, like fine food, strengthens, satisfies and builds you up.  Every promise of God in His Word is a fruit tree; and God’s Garden is full of them!
  4. There was a tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  The more I think about this, the more I think everything would have been better without this tree.  Yet there is a very deep and spiritual truth here.  Man is incapable of knowing good and evil apart from a relationship with Christ.  Once planted in Him, our eyes are opened and we see clearly. 
  5. There was a flowing river.  A river watered God’s Garden.  Psalm 46 tells us that “There is a river that makes the city of God glad.” (verse 4).  All the blessings in Christ are made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2.  Man’s wondrous privilege 

• He was put in the Garden by God, verse 15.  Adam was not made in the Garden.  Our engrafting into Christ is also done by God; we have no part in it.  The provision of salvation is great, but provision is not enough.  Man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, must be brought into the family.
• He was put in to enjoy the work of God.  What truly amazing grace this is!  And we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ.
• He was put in also to work and to watch.  Adam was given some responsibilities by His Creator.  He was to tend the Garden, verse 15.  Even thought the Christian life is a life of faith, it is not a life of leisure. 
• He was put in with divine freedom and a warning, verses 16, 17.  A millennia later, Paul asked, “Should we sin that grace may abound?”  Of course the answer is no. Even though God’s grace is demonstrated every time we sin and repent, this is no excuse to sin.  But something important to note here:  even though Adam sinned, and in a very big way, God was grieved and worked with him.  God still talked to him, God provided him clothes, and even though God punished Adam and Eve, He still cared for them. But be warned:  sin may not end sonship with God, but it will kill fellowship.