Can You Trust God?
October 29, 2014//
Topics to Dig Into
Genesis 2:9,15 (NLT) The Lord God made all sorts of treesgrow up from the ground – trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious
fruit. The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.
But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden – except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Was there really a garden called Eden?
About a year ago, I wrote What’s Behind the Story, touching on my view of the literal interpretation of Bible stories, particularly the early stories for which there are no eye
witnesses.
witnesses.
Along those lines, let’s consider the Garden of Eden. No one knows whether Eden was an actual place or not, but it was definitely a concept. The story tells us what God intended for the world. If we step back from the details, we can capture the feel of the place.
Beauty and harmony reigned as is often portrayed by images of a lion and lamb lying together peacefully. Humans enjoyed perfect relationships with each other and spent time daily talking intimately with God. Competition, accusation, greed, deceit, and jealousy didn’t exist. There was no pain, disease, sadness, regret or shame.
God provided plentifully. It was Eden. Some would say it was heaven.
God provided plentifully. It was Eden. Some would say it was heaven.
Where did it go wrong?
There was only one rule. God gave them complete access and control over everything except this one tree. It turned out not to be a magical tree that would suddenly reveal universal knowledge. The tree was about trust. Trusting God.
Trusting that God was good – that He knew what was best for them.
Trusting that God was good – that He knew what was best for them.
The humans in our story couldn’t take it. God was holding something
back. There was something better than Eden and only God knew what it was. So
they sought to know what God knew. Of course, God knew the guilt and shame that disobedience would bring. God knew the complicated relationships that would
result from finger pointing and dishonesty.
back. There was something better than Eden and only God knew what it was. So
they sought to know what God knew. Of course, God knew the guilt and shame that disobedience would bring. God knew the complicated relationships that would
result from finger pointing and dishonesty.
God knew. He also knew it was best they didn’t know.
God still knows.
Although we have everything we really need, we want more. Trusting God feels vulnerable. Depending on Him feels out of control. Is God holding back on us?
Does God know best? Can we trust God?
Like a productive garden, a rich relationship should be tended regularly.
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