God's Glory Church

“And the Lord God planted a paradise in Eden in the east, and there settled the man whom He had created.” — Genesis 2:8

My father loved the outdoors, camping, fishing and collecting minerals. He also liked to work in the yard and in the garden. All this required a lot of effort! He spent hours pruning, weeding, planting seeds or flowers, pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, watering the yard and garden. However, the results were worth it: a well-kept lawn, delicious tomatoes and beautiful roses. Every year he cut the roses close to the ground, and every year they grew again, filling everything around with their fragrance and beauty.

In the book of Genesis, we read about the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve lived, flourished and communed with God. There, God “raised… every tree from the ground, beautiful to look at and tasty to eat” (Gen. 2:9). I think the perfect garden also had beautiful and fragrant flowers, maybe even thornless roses!

After their rebellion against God, Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden and from then on had to plant and tend their own gardens, which meant breaking up hard ground, fighting weeds and other difficulties (Gen. 3:17-19, 23-24). However, God continued to care for them (v. 21). He did not leave mankind without the beauty of creation in order to draw us to Himself (Rom. 1:20). The flowers in the garden remind us of God’s constant love and the promise of renewed creation. They are symbols of hope and comfort!

When did creation make you praise the Creator? How do you see God in creation?

Dear God, thank you for the many reminders of You in creation. Thank you for the beauty among the thorns.

By Alison Kieda