Why the Garden?

[nebula]

Genesis 2

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. . . . 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

This is something I was contemplating, and then I was thinking it would make a good question to ponder and discuss.

Why did the Lord God plant a garden?

Why did the Lord God place man in the garden to tend and keep it?

Why were the "Tree of Life" and the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" in this garden?

(The TotKoGaE was forbidden, but it must have had a purpose beyond being a test, right?)

[tsth]

If you think about it, TTOKOGAE, brought "free-will" into play. If man only knew good, that is all he could do, and his only choice would be for God. But, because he ate of the Tree, he now has knowledge of both good and evil, and must make a choice. Those who choose evil, will also be used but they will be used for ignoble purposes. Those who choose Jesus, will be used for noble deeds and good works prepared in advance by God. Pharoah chose evil, but he was not outside of the service of God.

I have a more detailed posting on this topic, but just didn't have time to get it right now.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Openly Curious]

'nebula'

Genesis 2

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. . . . 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

This is something I was contemplating, and then I was thinking it would make a good question to ponder and discuss.

Hi Nebula,

This is most interesting to ponder as you said and you gave us some good questions to answer. I'll just take my stab at your questions the way I see it when I look at in light of your questions put forth.

Why did the Lord God plant a garden?

I think that God likes to create and see things grow and mature as the plant kingdom was here before man and God was the giver of that life as well God likes to plant things and watch them grow and bring forth. Everything in the beginning was created with it's own seed within itself so it could reproduce. God had an obvious plan for the garden to have planted it as there was a reason behind it I think.

Why did the Lord God place man in the garden to tend and keep it?

To me God didn't create man to just sit around but he wanted him to work and be over his creation that he made he wanted him to gather in the fruit and vegtables that the garden produced as their were various trees also in the garden. The garden was man's provision from God all he had to do is to tend and keep it and he was cared for in the process.

Why were the "Tree of Life" and the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" in this garden?

On this one I think that God did create man with the freewill to choose what they wanted. Both trees were put in the garden to give man that freedom of choice as before the fall man only knew that which was good and had no knowlege of good and evil until after the fall happen. These two trees were put there by God as he knew the serpent was going to come and tempt them to eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil so they would know both good and evil and thus be able to choose which one they wanted on their own freewill choice. And we all know the wrong choice was made and evil entered the world and we have to choose to this day between doing good or doing evil in life. So I think both trees were there as mankind in the begining really did have a choice freely of their own.

(The TotKoGaE was forbidden, but it must have had a purpose beyond being a test, right?)

OC

[Fraught]

Did you ever believe something without knowing enough about why you believed it to be able to explain it to someone else? 'we can't see into the glass clearly'. That's how it is with my belief about the TotKoGaE. I believe Adam and Eve were meant to do what they did. maybe 'meant to' is the wrong wording but that God knew they would before He placed them in the Garden. We are meant to be developing into something we don't even fully realize yet and that tree was the first step in whatever it is.

[Iryssa]

Why did the Lord God plant a garden?

Why not? I mean, who doesn't like gardens?

Anyway, I like OC and Fraught's responses...and I want to add that I think all the good things God created were meant to bring Him glory.

[kat8585]

If you think about it, TTOKOGAE, brought "free-will" into play. If man only knew good, that is all he could do, and his only choice would be for God. But, because he ate of the Tree, he now has knowledge of both good and evil, and must make a choice. Those who choose evil, will also be used but they will be used for ignoble purposes. Those who choose Jesus, will be used for noble deeds and good works prepared in advance by God. Pharoah chose evil, but he was not outside of the service of God.

I have a more detailed posting on this topic, but just didn't have time to get it right now.

In His Love,

Suzanne

This sounds fascinating. I would love to see the posting.

[tsth]

In regard to the question, "Why the Garden"?

Seeds are grown in a garden.

Luke 8:11 "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

James 1:21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[EricH]

The tree was in the middle of the garden

[tsth]

If you think about it, TTOKOGAE, brought "free-will" into play. If man only knew good, that is all he could do, and his only choice would be for God. But, because he ate of the Tree, he now has knowledge of both good and evil, and must make a choice. Those who choose evil, will also be used but they will be used for ignoble purposes. Those who choose Jesus, will be used for noble deeds and good works prepared in advance by God. Pharoah chose evil, but he was not outside of the service of God.

I have a more detailed posting on this topic, but just didn't have time to get it right now.

In His Love,

Suzanne

This sounds fascinating. I would love to see the posting.

I'm sorry to say, that I could not find the original that I was thinking of in regard to this topic.

But, I'll just say that obviously, when mankind partook of that tree of knowledge, of both "good and evil", he then had understanding of BOTH. Man has opportunity through the seed of the Word, to partake of Jesus, thru His Word. That is why He tells us to eat of "my flesh". Remember, the Word became flesh.

For those who will not choose to partake of Christ Jesus, there is usefulness even in themselves. Remember that God has used those that are less righteous to discipline those who turn to disobedience. Just as Pharoah continued in hardness, his refusal (which God foreknew) was used for discipline and testing. And the Babylonians were used in the same way. (I know, I'm beginning to get off-topic here, but it's just to show that the knowledge of good and evil is used as instruments.)

Habakuk 1:5 "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. 6 I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. 7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour; 9 they all come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. 10 They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them. 11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on-- guilty men, whose own strength is their god."

12 O Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O Lord, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish. 13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

Here is the distinction of being used for "good" or "evil":

2 Tim. 2:19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[EricH]

The Bible does not directly tell us God's motives for choosing the garden as the initial envornment for His creation. Anything we say would be speculation