What is God's Will? What does God want?
"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it." (NRSV, Genesis 2:15)
"The majestic chapter 1 of Genesis, and the intimate beginning of chapter 2 both tell much about creation, showing God's Character and God's priorities through Divine Initiative and Action. So far, however, we have not been told what God's Purpose was in creation. Here we learn for the first time, God made humans in order to till and keep the garden, and perhaps even someday the whole earth.
"This purpose is amazing. So many other creation stories of the ancient world depict the creation of humanity as a by-product, an ancient accident, or even a mistake of the gods. Genesis makes it clear that God intended to create people, not for a whim but for a reason. Herein lies the possibility for human dignity, because we are designed and fashioned with something in God's Mind for us to do. The statement of purpose may well surprise us in another way.
"In the modem world, we often think of humanity as the apex of creation, as the goal toward which God was working. We emphasize some other part of the story, such as the assertion in Genesis I :26 that God gives humanity a responsibility for (or dominion over) all the rest of creation or the command in Genesis 1 :28 that humans be fruitful and multiply. Sometimes our science or our psychological theories elevate us humans to the highest point of creation, assuring us that we are God's greatest creation. [Instead think elephants, whales, giraffes, butterflies, birds - of all kinds, zebras, penguins, etc., etc., etc.] Genesis 2: 15 explains thing differently. We humans have a Godgiven purpose. We were not created for ourselves; we were created in order to till and keep the garden.
"The phrase 'till and keep' may be familiar (or perhaps we still remember the 'to dress it and to keep it' of the KJV), but this is not the best translation of these two Hebrew words. The first, usually rendered 'to till,' is 'abad, more often translated as 'to serve' or 'to be a slave of.' The second, 'to keep,' is shamar, which means 'to preserve' or 'to protect.'
"Clearly, being a slave or a servant of the earth moves us from the center of God's creation. God makes us in order to take care of the earth itself, and to look to its interests instead of our own. We work the ground and work with the earth, and already we know that our brows will sweat in the labor. Not only does God give us purpose, but reason for labor - even hard labor. The garden is not small responsibility, and we are not to be lords of leisure over the garden, but to be its servants and slaves. We are responsible for the garden, now and into the future, so we must preserve and protect it.
"Care of the garden, God's earth, and all God's Creation is more than a purpose. It is our mission. Living as servants of creation fulfills God's intention of us and lives up to the reasons why we were created in the first place. Caring for creation means doing God's work in the world. This is no pastime, nor is it a strategy for us to feel good about ourselves. God sends us into the garden because the garden needs service and preservation, and we are God's instrument for caring for creation."
(The above was quoted from Rev. Jon I Berquist, "Feasting on The Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, " Year A, Volume 2, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 'Homiletical Perspective,' pages 30-31.)
(From Pastor Beake: Some theologians, myself included, say that because of all of the above we are 'co-creators' along with God in our tilling, keeping, serving, and being a slave to, a servant to, all of creation; being artists and creators in the world ourselves. After all, Adam was given the task, the power, the ownership to name all of the animals.)
As a part of our confession, in The Confession of the Liturgy of Ash Wednesday, at the beginning of Lent, we say: "Our waste and pollution of Your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, we confess to You. Have Mercy on us, 0 God."
What is God's Will?
What does God want?
Blessings to you as we enter into The 50 Days of Eastertide, the Season of Easter, and receive and celebrate the New Life and New Creation given to each of us as a Gift from God in Jesus The Christ's Resurrection.
The Peace of The LORD be with you always.
Sincerely, Pastor Jon Beake