When you think of Eden, what do you imagine? (If you are reading this out loud, have a discussion with everyone about what they think Eden looked like.) Eden offered much more than just a grove of trees where Adam and Eve could rest all day. It was the meeting of heaven and earth, God’s seat of authority. Today, we will learn about what else was in Eden besides trees.

Genesis 2:8-10, “The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.) 10 Now a river flows from Eden to water the orchard, and from there it divides into four headstreams.”

Genesis 3:8a, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day,”

Ezekiel 28:13-14, (this is God speaking to a spiritual being) “You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering, the ruby, topaz, and emerald, the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl; your settings and mounts were made of gold. On the day you were created they were prepared. 14 I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.”

The pleasant garden of Eden was not just for Adam and Eve. It was “the garden of God”. In addition to the orchard described in Genesis, Ezekiel says that it included the holy mountain of God, a place where heaven and earth met. Adam and Eve were also not alone in the garden. Ezekiel says that there were spiritual beings living there: the being addressed in the Ezekiel passage, an anointed guardian cherub, and other spiritual beings referred to as fiery stones. Just like Job referred to spiritual beings as “Morning stars”, spiritual beings were also commonly referred to as fiery stones. God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in Eden. That was part of God’s plan for His imagers. As we’ll see in a few days, it did not last, but it must have been wonderful while it did.

Questions:

1. Besides a garden, what else was in Eden? – The mountain of God
2. Who else was in Eden besides Adam, Eve, and God?: Other Spiritual beings (the one being addressed in the Ezekiel passage, an anointed guardian cherub, and other spiritual beings referred to as fiery stones.)
3. How was life in Eden different from life today? – Adam and Eve walked with God, there was no sin, etc.

Prayer: Dear God, it must have been wonderful to live in Your garden. Even though life is not the same today, please help us walk with You by reading Your word and talking to You every day. Amen.

Song: “All Things Bright and Beautiful”