Eden - The Garden of God
Genesis 2:7-9 And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward in Eden. And there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground Jehovah God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The tree of life also was in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden. And from there it was divided and became four heads.
Notice above that the LORD God planted a garden in Eden. He placed the man in the garden His hands had made. He gave the man orders to keep what He, God had done. This is what I want us to see. God planted the garden, and God placed the man into His work that He had finished, and he commanded the man to keep God’s work. Of course, we know in this story that Adam did not keep it, and that sin came through Adam and passed upon all of mankind.
Many people have asked where death, sickness and disease come from. God cursed the earth. Adam’s body was formed of the earth. Adam was robed in the cursed earth. Not only did the physical earth bring forth thorns and thistles, but the cursed earth that was wrapped around man as his body was bringing forth of the realm of death. In fact, God told the serpent that he would eat of the dust of the earth. We conclude here that the earth, which included the bodies of mankind was cursed.
Now to move forward. Adam is removed from this garden and cast out into the earth. In the nation of Israel God again brings a people into a garden. He calls Israel His garden, His vineyard. In Exodus it is recorded that He said he would bring them in and plant them in the land He had made to dwell in (Exodus 15:17). In Isaiah God calls Israel His vineyard. A vineyard is a planting or a garden. Of course, this vineyard gets in trouble for not bringing forth the expected fruit. In Joel the prophet writes that the land before the devourer is like Eden (Garden of God) and behind is like a desolate wilderness, again speaking of Israel.
God had taken this people to himself. He had gathered them out of Egypt by His own strength. He had led them, fed them, and clothed them. In fact, He had told the to just be obedient to His word, and they would be blessed coming and going. If you take a close look at the Jehovah names in scripture you will see that God is revealing himself as all aspects of a Provider. He is a Shepherd, a healer, a banner and so forth. Israel was surrounded with God’s goodness and was again told to keep it. Just like Adam in the beginning they did not and were banished from their land where God was the complete source.
Now as we look at this what does it all mean? Jesus said to the Jews (John 5) that they search the scripture and think they have life through them. However, the scripture was a testimony of Christ himself. Could it be that the great Garden of God, Eden, where the man was placed in the beginning was a testimony of Christ? I would say yes. He is the SEED that had to be planted into the earth to bring forth life (John 12:24). He is the SEED that had to die, and be formed in the earth, and bring forth the true fruit of God.
IN John 15 Jesus declares that He is the True Vine. Jesus Christ is the true planting of God. All other plantings were a testimony of Him. We that are His are planted into Him, into His death, in order that through us His life would come forth. Just like the picture in the Garden of Eden all of the source is through God. We simply have to keep or abide in what God has done. As God reveals this glorious WORD in us, we receive it and we abide in it. We keep it. As Jesus is revealed as our redeemer, we keep it. We couldn’t redeem ourselves. As He is revealed as our provider, we keep it, because we couldn’t provide the necessary garments to abide in the presence of God. We keep all things that are revealed and shown to us in Christ.
The Apostle Paul declared to the believers in Corinth that they were God’s husbandry or farm. Here is where the true planting of the LORD is done. Christ is planted in man’s hearts to bring forth in man the fruit of God. In His planting the Old carnal man is done away, and what springs forth comes from God. In this garden again is a river. However, this is the most powerful and glorious river there is. It is the River of the Water of life. Jesus said, out of your belly’s or innermost being shall flow rivers of life. Flowing through this garden is the Spirt of Life and the glorious river is bringing forth life wherever it goes. In Genesis the river was parted into 4 heads. I believe if we study the scripture, we will see that 4 signifies the whole. Israel was in 4 groups, there are 4 winds (N,S,E,W). The scripture speaks of 4 corners. The brazen altar had 4 horns. This water of life flows out to the 4 corners or to the entire earth from this garden, who are the people of God, that have been planted in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I hope you enjoy this sharing. It is short and was taken from one of our Saturday meetings where we gather and sit around a table. This atmosphere allows us to freely share the water, the bread, and the substance of Christ Jesus with one another. Pastor Henry Stanley began this many years ago in his home. It is a glorious time of breaking bread and strengthening the brethren. Praise God!
