NIV Storyline Bible NIV Storyline Bible Sampler | Page 19

GENESIS   9
CREATION
ERA 1
THE GARDEN OF EDEN
Genesis 2:8
SYNOPSIS
The Bible portrays the wonderful Garden
of Eden as a historical location, essential
for understanding God’s intentions for
creation, mankind’s role in the world, and
the hope of eternal blessing. By word and
deed, God revealed, in Eden, both his love
and justice toward mankind. First, there
was peace and bounty; then there was
judgment and a promise of restoration—­
all under the Lord’s sovereignty and provi-
dence.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GARDEN
Garden imagery such as pomegranates were later
used to adorn Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 7:42).
© annat zisovich/Shutterstock
In Genesis 2, God (see article, p. 768)
placed mankind into a garden named
Eden, which He had planted near Mesopotamia (see article, p. 29). 1 Here, Adam (see
article, p. 17) and Eve (see article, p. 11) were appointed stewards over creation. God gave
them work assignments (Genesis 1:28), but this activity was joyful, not a burden (see ar-
ticle “Humanity, the Crown of Creation,” p. 682). The garden was beautiful and abundant,
containing “trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food” (Genesis 2:9). Indeed,
Eden provided for all human physical needs. And in this garden, God planted two special
trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
EXPULSION FROM THE GARDEN
The Garden of Eden was a place of close communion with God, who is pictured as walking
in the garden (Genesis 3:8). Tragically, Adam and Eve fractured this fellowship by doing the
one thing God told them not to do: eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil. So the Lord cast them out and barred them from re-­entry (see article “The Fall,” p.
13). Thus they forfeited their wonderful home, for which humanity has yearned ever since
(see article “Alienation from God,” p. 894).
CONCLUSION
Eden shows the depth of God’s kindness and the enormity of human calamity. In this
garden, Adam and Eve had everything they needed but, absurdly, they grasped for more.
They exchanged their living dream for a nightmare, and a large measure of their grief lay
in recalling what they once enjoyed. Still, without a glimpse at Eden, humanity cannot
fully understand the rich provision and fellowship God promises those who turn to Him in
repentance (see article, p. 1489) and faith (see article, p. 1592).
STORYLINE
After Adam and Eve’s expulsion, the Garden of Eden provided a benchmark for later biblical
authors, as they pointed toward the relational intimacy God intended for His people. The
garden stood as a picture of hope for believers and a model for future blessing. 2 Further-
more, garden imagery adorned the worship centers of Israel—­the tabernacle (see article,
p. 147) in the wilderness and the temple (see article, p. 452) of Jerusalem. Finally, in the
book of Revelation, the Bible places a river and fruit-­bearing trees (with healing leaves)
in the middle of the Holy City (Revelation 22:2), which is the destiny of the redeemed (see