Genesis 2:15

Genesis 2:15 (NIV) “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

This is Adam’s first job. To work the garden literally means to husband and steward it. In other words God wanted Adam to promote the general welfare of the Garden. A lot like we would work a garden today. Except here there were no weeds or thorns that would choke out the good fruit bearing plants. So this involved some labor, but not the kind of back breaking work we associate with farming today.

To “take care of it,” is a terrible translation. Some translations may translate this as “to keep it,” which is a little better. The word in Hebrew used here actually means “to guard it.” Now in a world where Adam and God are in total control and all physical things are under subjection to them, what could he possibly have to guard against?

The answer lies in Genesis 3. The course of human history since the time in the garden tells us that Adam didn’t follow through very well on the protection side of his job. When the serpent starts talking to Eve, we find that she is totally unprepared for the encounter. When Adam gets involved a little later in the chapter we find that his guard is down as well (he didn’t foresee the threat that the poison of sin could pose coming through his unguarded wife).

Adam could have asked and sought the Lord for more information regarding the threat that he was to guard against. Given the relationship that he and the Lord had it is unlikely that God would have left him to his own devices. Today, according to John 15:15 He no longer calls us servants, but friends. The difference being that He will tell His friends what He is up to. If we seek His counsel in these sorts of matters, He will not leave us totally blind to what we really need to be able to see. He will also give us the wisdom we need in abundance if we but ask (James 1:5).

Adam made his first critical mistake before Eve ever talked to the serpent. He kept only half of the Lord’s commandment. Our purpose from God, is always good. When we fail to walk in our purpose, we open to door to evil.