“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.””
In Genesis 1, creation culminated with humanity. Likewise, in Genesis 2’s re-description of creation, the events escalate with humanity. At first glance, the “ground eye” view of Genesis 2 can seem not as grand. Sun and moon and stars and oceans and continents give way to the dust of the earth and the planting of gardens. However, upon deeper inspection, Genesis 2’s view provides insight into God’s intention for his creation. Soul is given to humanity (v. 7). Place is given to humanity (v. 15). Later, power and prestige and partnership will be given to humanity (v. 19-25). But here, commands are given to humanity.
To the sinful and rebellious ear, commands from God seem burdensome and task-driven. Work is less rewarding and more tiring than it should be. Even keeping a garden becomes backbreaking to the sinner. But in a sinless reality—like Genesis 2—God’s placement of man to work it and keep it become something extraordinarily special. Even God’s direct command to eat from all but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a joy to the ear because the God of all things—the Creator—is communicating with us!
In other words, what can be seen in the commands to garden and to refrain is relationship with Deity. Before we balk at the commands, question the transpiring of events, curiously peek at a map to find Eden, contemplate good and evil, and so on, we must pause in astonishment at the speaking God, who stoops down to communicate and provide the right way forward. What’s more, this was no accidental moment but a deep revealing of who God is. God has self-identified as being the same always (for instance, Exodus 3’s I Am Who I Am). I Am Who I Am is the God who is slow to anger, merciful, and abounding in steadfast love to those who fear him, so, of course, this can be seen even in Eden, when God spoke to his creation.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”