2:8-9 — 8Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
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God does not create humans and then leave them to their own account, to sink or swim as he might be able. "God helps those who help themselves" we often hear it said.1 This is not the biblical view of life. As if the gift of being just a worthless vessel bearing God's breathe is not enough, Yahweh God now parcels him with the honour of residence in God's own garden. Gan, 'garden,' in the ancient Near East always referred to an area enclosed and protected within a hedge intended for cultivation. Though the Garden of Eden is never called a "paradise" in Genesis,2 the protrait of it given here makes it one for there Yahweh God had "made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." Also, while the origin of the name Eden is uncertain, whenever it is used in the OT it always denotes a place of lush fertility (Eze 28:13; 31:9, 16; Joel 2:3), a pattern of unqualified transformation (Isa 51:3; Eze 36:35). From the very beginning God was never stingy with his goodness.
From the very beginning
God was never stingy
with his goodness.
Also in "the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Though nothing is yet made of the "tree of life" and the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil," their very names suggest they hold the ultimate "secrets of life." A lesser god would have locked them away; Yahweh trusted the man so fully He allowed him—dust that he is—free access into their presence. What glory!
A lesser god would have locked away the secrets of life.
Yahweh allowed the man
free access into their presence.
You may wish to read the following commentaries-expositions:
Low Chai Hok
©Alberith, 2016