Genesis 2:8-9
I love to think of God planting that first garden in Eden. Can’t you just imagine Him bending down, kneeling in the dirt, touching each little seedling as He planted it, talking to it, speaking life to it as He put it into the soil.
When I imagine this scenario, I never see God’s face in my mind’s eye, but I do see His legs and torso. He’s always wearing denim overalls in my imagination! It amuses me that I see the Lord God this way, but only when I think of Him in the Garden.
I can imagine Him humming a little tune as He walked through the rows, touching a leaf here and there, noticing a tiny little pepper popping up or encouraging a butterfly in its work of moving pollen from flower to flower.
It astounds me that the Lord didn’t just speak Eden into existence. He could have. That’s how He accomplished much of Creation during those 6 days. I think it would have been “easier”. We all know, either from experience or from hearing others talk, how much work it is to plant a garden!
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
Genesis 2:8-9, KJV
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
But verse 8 says “the LORD God planted a garden…” Amazing, right? He actually planned and planted each tiny seedling, plant, tree, vegetable and fruit in that garden. Can you imagine how beautiful it must have been?
When we think of God as a Gardener, it brings to mind those strengths we commonly attribute to gardeners, farmers and growers. A gardener has a plan. He or she sows seeds in specific places for maximum growth. They wait patiently for plants to sprout, grow and produce. Gardeners are nurturers. They pay close attention to each little plant making sure it has everything it needs to grow well. They prune, water, fertilize and support.
It’s easy to see the parallels of how the Lord takes care of us.
- He has a plan for our lives.
- He puts us in the places that will grow us best.
- He watches over us, sometimes protecting us from harm, but sometimes allowing the sun or rain to beat down harshly, knowing we need the storm to make us grow strong.
- God is patient with us.
- He nourishes us with His blessings.
- He rejoices over us.
- He prunes us of the things that will harm us.
- He provides the water of the His Word for our nourishment.
How is the Lord, our Master Gardener, working in your life today?
Spend time listing and thanking Him for His goodness to you. You’ll be amazed how it encourages your heart to recognize how much He cares for you.
In Him,
Alesha Kay
Obtaining Mercy 