Tuesday 24th January
Read Genesis 2:8-9
“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 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.” (NIVUK)
When we think of this ‘garden in the east’ we are perhaps inclined to think of orchards stretching out on plains with rivers flowing through and watering the trees. The next verses (v10-14) tend to reinforce this ‘plain-like’ fertile garden because the location seems to suggest ancient Persia (modern Iraq) with the branching rivers and gardens planted by kings (literally these Persian gardens were called ‘paradiso’).
However Moses and the biblical authors refer to this ‘garden in the east’ in mountain language. Consider that great Song of Moses composed after God lead His people out of Egypt through the waters (Exodus 15). It picks up creation language (the deep waters and the Spirit etc, that I will resist digressing on…) but concludes with these words.
“By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone –
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance –
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.” (Exodus 15:16b-17) (NIVUK)
God will plant His people on the mountain of his inheritance, his personal mountain, the place He made Himself, His sanctuary crafted by His own hands. The mountain Moses sings of echoes the garden that God carefully planted.
The odd thing about the echo, if you notice it, is that the people are the trees! When Balaam is hired to curse Israel but repeatedly blesses them (cf Genesis 1:28) he looks out over the assembled camp of God’s people and declares:
“‘How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwelling-places, Israel!
6 ‘Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.” (Numbers 24:5-7a) (NIVUK)
God’s people are trees indeed, planted and watered and sustained by His life-giving presence and blessing. ‘There He put the man He had formed’ (v8). He dwells amongst them. Praise Him indeed…
