DAILY READING
REFLECTION
He Planted Some Trees
by David Thompson
God had a need and a plan. Now let's look at this need. Verses 8-9a says "The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food..." We see an omnipotent being sitting high above the earth with a plan. It included using His powers to create an amazing place. Can you just imagine what it must have taken to conceive of this world? He began with the universe; creating the galaxies that the Webb telescope is bringing into better focus. God didn't need a telescope; He saw each star, planet and asteroid as He made them. Then He focused on the earth. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." In 1:16 it says, "Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also." God created a great creation even before man comes on the scene. But in chapter 2:8, man is formed and put into the garden God created.
In this garden were many trees, plants and animals. And according to God's plan all were to be tended by the man. So why did God do all of this? God, for some reason, needed fellowship with lower beings. Perhaps the fall of the bad angels really made him stop and decide He needed a new being to be with. Whatever the reason, man was formed and I am sure that God had great hopes for man. Unfortunately for man, verse 9b goes on the state,"...The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Bible scholars disagree as to the two trees. Some say they are real as stated, yet others say they are symbolic. The tree of life stands for salvation and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil stands for humans' sin nature. It definitely says there was evil in this world before creation. The rebellion of the bad angels that had to be cast down is proof of that.
Knowing that God knew us (you and me) before the foundation of the earth tells me that there was a plan already in place at the formation of the trees. God obviously knew something because He put those two trees in the Garden of Eden and commanded Adam (and ultimately Eve after she was formed) not to eat from them. I'll go out on limb here and say that perhaps God made these two forbidden trees to show us all that humans have a free will and choice. We can live according to God's Word or choose to sin. Do you ever struggle with this choice? I do. God didn't make puppets. We have free will to make choices just like Adam. And as can be seen with the tree of life, there was an early plan to give us a way to salvation where our sins are covered. He is an amazing God and we should be in awe of Him.
PRAYER
Lord, God, as I studied for this devotion, I saw that many learned people have disagreed about the meaning of your Creation Story. It is a bit confusing what to believe. However, I am thankful as I meditate on your words that it is obvious that a very special and powerful being is in control and creates everything just the way it needs to be to take good care of us. Thank you for creating the world and for ultimately creating us. Help us (with your Holy Spirit) to live closer to you and your ways. Amen
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