The River Flows From It

Genesis 2:8-15 (NAS)



The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east. That's where he put the man whom he had formed. The LORD God made all the trees grow out of the ground. These trees were nice to look at, and their fruit was good to eat. The tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil grew in the middle of the garden.  A river flowed from Eden to water the garden. Outside the garden it divided into four rivers. The name of the first river is Pishon. This is the one that winds throughout Havilah, where there is gold. (The gold of that land is pure. Bdellium and onyx are also found there.)  The name of the second river is Gihon. This is the one that winds throughout Sudan. The name of the third river is Tigris. This is the one that flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to farm the land and to take care of it.

We see in verse 10 that a river flowed ”from” Eden to water the garden. We notice that once outside of the garden it “divided”. Once this was established “then” the Lord God took man and “put” him “in” the Garden of Eden – “Why?” So that man would farm the land and to take care of it.
This is our first life lesson where God was showing us what it looks like to “seek first the kingdom of God” because all else flow out of that. At least all Goodness does.

When I went back to Matthew to read the context of these scriptures in verses 20-34 I was amazed at what I now see.  I have a new understanding and appreciation for these words. After all when God had Adam in the garden he was perfectly clothed and in right standing with His creator. Nothing at all was between the two of them. Please read the scriptures below to prepare for where God’s story is leading us in the coming days.

I pray that we seek first His Kingdom, that we store up treasures for ourselves in heaven, and that we receive our protection for our hearts so that what flows out of it will cover the multitudes. I pray that our eye is unclouded so that we can be the light to disperse the darkness. I give thanks for our provision so that we can be filled with joy, peace, harmony, charity and show how great is our God.

In Christ, let it be done to us as He has desired,

Candace

Matthew 6:20-34 (GWT)

Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust don’t destroy and thieves don’t break in and steal. 21Your heart will be where your treasure is. 22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If the light in you is darkness, how dark it will be! 24“No one can serve two masters. He will hate the first master and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and despise the second. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26“Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? 28“And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. 29But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 30That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? 31“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. 34“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.