Category: A Mission for the Cosmos

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”

Our memory verse talks about God being the Lord of heaven AND earth. God had a heavenly family that Job says sang during creation. When God created a second realm, He wanted earthly stewards to manage it, a second family to image or represent Him physically on Earth. Today, we’re going to read about the earthly beings Jesus created and commissioned to be His hands and feet in His earthly creation and to expand Eden throughout the Earth.

Genesis 1:1, 26-28, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” 26, Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.” 27 God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.””

Genesis 2:8-9a, 15, “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… 15 The LORD God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it.”

Once God created the world, He wanted someone to rule His new creation. Humans were to image God in this new world, being his physical hands and feet, and doing the work He gave them. That work was to “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.” God had planted Eden, and humans were commissioned to fill the rest of the earth and make it just like Eden.

Questions:

1. What did God create humans as?: God’s imagers, His earthly representatives, His hands and feet
2. What job or mission did God give His imagers? – Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it (make it like Eden). Rule over the fish, birds, and creatures. (notice that doesn’t include ruling over other humans)
3. How are you imaging God today? How are you His hands and feet?: (Help them apply the mission God gave us. E.g. – being part of a family, improving the world around them, taking care of nature, pets, animals, working to share with others, etc.)

Prayer: Dear God, You created the world and everything in it. You created us as your earthly family to represent you in the world by taking care of it and Your creatures. Please help us to image you well in this world. Amen.

Song: “This Is My Father’s World”