Blueprint: Discovering God's Intended Design 2

Part 2 of VCF's 3-week series entitled Blueprint: Discovering God's Intended Design.

Week 1: In God's Image
Week 2: In the Garden
Week 3: In the Lead

Genesis 2:8-15

8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 
Garden - connotes a pleasant place
Eden - literally means 'delight'
Man was put in a delightful place.
9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
All kinds of trees -> abundanceGrow out of the ground -> place in naturally blessedPleasing to the eye -> beautifulGood for food -> enjoyable
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 
Having a river through the garden means that it is spacious, adequate and enough.
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Man was given responsibility to take care of the garden.
Put there - Be there
Work it - God worked, man was designed to work and God partners with us in our work
Take care - guard, keep watch, pray, fight, prepare, plan, protect, do whatever it takes.
The garden of delight is a place of:
Provision - abundance, blessing
Prosperity - there is more than enough
Pleasure - beautiful and enjoyable
Protection  - assurance, security
And the Presence of God.


The target audience for this preaching were the men given that the verses were about Adam, all before Eve came into the picture.  In present context, each man is entrusted with a garden that he needs to take care of (e.g. family) and this responsibility should not be delegated to someone else.

When there is sin, there is distortion to the design.  A man may feel weak, self-centered, and have self-pity given the responsibilities, but Jesus can restore faith, strength, selflessness and confidence needed to step up and be responsible.

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