Journeying in Genesis: He Strikes the Soil

“And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east,

and there he put the man whom he had formed.”  Genesis 2:8

Whether at home, work, rest, or play, the Lord has planted a garden and put us in it for His plans and purposes. Planted is the Hebrew word נטע (nata`) meaning to plant and also means to strike in; fix, fastened.

Think about how we have to disturb soil to plant a garden or lay a foundation. Yet there is nothing disturbing about how our Father plants and prepares our hearts to receive. He strikes into our hearts, not with chaos, but with amazing precision and timing like a skilled surgeon or master gardener. Hebrews 4:12 explains it like this,

"For the word of God is living and active,

sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,

of joints and of marrow,

and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Just think of the work He can do when we get still.

The ministry God has given you, He has planted on a fixed foundation with authority and precision. Now He has placed you in it. Minister in that garden with the confidence you have in Christ, seeking His wisdom. Like our Father, we want to be excellent and diligent workers, not haphazardly slinging our trowels in disturbance. He has placed you where you are in order to,

“…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain..” 

1 Corinthians 15:58b