Read: Genesis 2:8-18
The tree of life was in the midst of the garden. (v. 9)
I often wonder what life would be like if Adam and Eve had not eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Today’s reading in Genesis shows us that God had given Adam and Eve everything they needed to thrive. Their Creator planted them in a garden, gave them meaningful work in stewarding and cultivating their environment, and blessed them with unhindered communion with him and each other. What more could they want?
And yet, the same deception often traps us too: that God was holding out on them. The serpent in the garden painted them a false picture of flourishing in autonomy, and they fell for it (Gen. 3:1-13). The two trees in our passage today are a beautiful picture of God’s heart towards the intended flourishing of all creation. They represent the loving boundaries that God put in place for our flourishing. Though we were created in God’s image, trying to become “like god” (3:5) is an impossible burden to carry.
It’s important to remember that even though Adam and Eve sinned, this doesn’t change the original intention of God: we were created to flourish. And although we are a people who live outside of Eden, Jesus’s life and death shows us that God has always intended to bring us back to deeply rooted and fruitful living in unhindered communion with him and one another.
As you pray, thank Jesus for making a way for us to flourish by giving his life upon the tree of Calvary.
Katelyn J. Dixon is a contemplative writer, speaker, and poet living in the Seattle area. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys cooking, photography, and exploring the enchanting Pacific Northwest with her husband, Drew, while partnering with him in life and ministry.
