Life Under The Tree: Genesis 2:8-17

Life Under The Tree: Genesis 2:8-17Senior Pastor Alex KennedyOther than God and people, the Bible mentions trees more than any other living thing. There is a tree on the first page of Genesis and on the last page of Revelation. In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a tree.
This Christmas series is going to use the examples of trees in the Bible to speak about a biblical worldview:
Creation - Tree of LifeFall - Tree of Knowledge of Good and EvilRedemption - The CrossRestoration - Tree of Life
Scripture begins in a garden, which is full of beauty, abundance, and delight. The first thing God does after forming humanity is place them under a tree. (Gen 2:7-17).
The image of God forming Adam from the dust is not only poetic, but also accurate: humans are “dirt cheap”. (It is estimated that all the elements necessary to form a human costs $4.50!) The value of a human, however, is not derived from the elements we are made of. The value comes from the initial breath from God as ones made in His image.
The Tree of Life:God intended the tree of life to provide Adam and Eve with a symbol of life in fellowship with and dependence on Him. (Gen 2-3; Rev 22)
In the Bible, the tree of life symbolizes the fullness of life and immortality available in God. The tree of life is introduced in Gen 2, where God causes it and the tree of knowledge of good and evil to grow in the garden of Eden (Gen 2:9).
It is a tree of justice, beauty, truth, love, light, and righteousness.
The Tree of Life stands for Christ. The rest of the Bible centers on the Tree of Life.
Work:Gen 2:15 says, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. In other words, before sin, work is worship. Your job tomorrow morning isn’t a distraction from spiritual life-it is part of your created purpose.
The Tree of Life is humanity’s original anchor point:-life comes from God-identity comes from God-meaning comes from God
You don’t discover life by looking inward. You receive life from the One who planted the tree. The Tree of Life reminds us that God didn’t create humans to grind through life, resent life, or merely endure it. He created you to flourish - spiritually, relationally, and emotionally.
Questions to Consider:

1. What do you notice about the garden God made for Adam?
2. God put Adam in the garden “to work it and take care of it.” What kinds of responsibilities has God given each of us?
3. What does this passage show about God’s love and care for people?
4. Where have you settled for survival instead of life?
5. Where do you need to return to God’s design?

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