Genesis 2 Commentary
Interdependence or relationships is the main highlight in the first section of chapter 2. Plants depend on water. One part of creation supplies another part of creation the required environment for increase and fruitfulness. So plants won’t spring up because there is no one to work the ground.
Man doesn’t exist without the ground and the breath.
“… and there was no one to work the ground.” Verse 5.
Verse 5 is interrupted by verse 8. The problem of verse 5, the lack of someone to work the ground, is solved as we now have someone to work the ground – the LORD God Himself! He plants the Garden! It is yet another emphasis that nothing grows by itself; the LORD must plant it!
Then we have the two trees! The river flowing in the Garden is yet another interesting picture. This strange river as it separates into four rivers, watering the Garden. The land watered by these rivers may roughly describe the extent of the Garden. The thought could be that the Garden isn’t a localized situation. These symbols would be important throughout the holy script.
We could focus on the term “relationships” and see how the Garden remains watered or sustained by the 4 rivers. The number represents the 4 winds or spheres of space as we know it: the north, east, south, and the west. The thought could be that we are looking at God’s creation in its entirety sustained by this water.
Verse 15 introduces another aspect of creation. Yes, humanity is created in God’s image. Humanity is also created to work and tender the Garden. Manipulate or manage the created environment.
Yes, tender creation but within a structure of laws – the will of God.
We can see another relationship. The soil? Yes. The breath? Yes. The food? Yes. Companionship? Now the LORD must solve this problem. Marriage comes into the picture. Family.
All this work! You probably understand why the LORD had to rest in between! The seventh day (Sabbath) is yet another symbol whose importance is scattered everywhere in the holy script.
We must keep these thoughts underlined as we journey through the pages of scripture.
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