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Genesis 2:16 | Pastor Jerry A. Burns
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: — Genesis 2:16
Verse 16 introduces the command of God. The whole universe operates by the laws of God, and now God gives instruction to Adam.
But notice how the command begins. It begins with freedom, not restriction.
God said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.”
Adam had permission to enjoy the abundance of the garden. There were many trees, much variety, and great freedom. God’s laws were not designed to keep Adam from enjoying life. They were designed to protect him and preserve fellowship with God.
That is important for us to remember. The commands of God are not cruel. They are good. His boundaries are not meant to destroy joy; they are meant to guard it.
Let us never set up our own will against the holy will of God. There was not only liberty allowed to man, in taking the fruits of paradise, but everlasting life made sure to him upon his obedience. There was a trial appointed of his obedience. By transgression he would forfeit his Maker's favour, and deserve his displeasure, with all its awful effects; so that he would become liable to pain, disease, and death. Worse than that, he would lose the holy image of God, and all the comfort
of his favour; and feel the torment of sinful passions, and the terror of his Maker's vengeance, which must endure for ever with his never dying soul. The forbidding to eat of the fruit of a particular tree was wisely suited to the state of our first parents. In their state of innocence, and separated from any others, what opportunity or what temptation had they to break any of the ten commandments? The event proves that the whole human race were concerned in the trial and fall of our first
parents. To argue against these things is to strive against stubborn facts, as well as Divine revelation; for man is sinful, and shows by his first actions, and his conduct ever afterwards, that he is ready to do evil. He is under the Divine displeasure, exposed to sufferings and death. The Scriptures always speak of man as of this sinful character, and in this miserable state; and these things are true of men in all ages, and of all nations.
Verse 16 introduces the command of God. The whole universe operates by the laws of God, and now God gives instruction to Adam.
But notice how the command begins. It begins with freedom, not restriction.
God said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.”
Adam had permission to enjoy the abundance of the garden. There were many trees, much variety, and great freedom. God’s laws were not designed to keep Adam from enjoying life. They were designed to protect him and preserve fellowship with God.
That is important for us to remember. The commands of God are not cruel. They are good. His boundaries are not meant to destroy joy; they are meant to guard it.
Let us never set up our own will against the holy will of God. There was not only liberty allowed to man, in taking the fruits of paradise, but everlasting life made sure to him upon his obedience. There was a trial appointed of his obedience. By transgression he would forfeit his Maker's favour, and deserve his displeasure, with all its awful effects; so that he would become liable to pain, disease, and death. Worse than that, he would lose the holy image of God, and all the comfort
of his favour; and feel the torment of sinful passions, and the terror of his Maker's vengeance, which must endure for ever with his never dying soul. The forbidding to eat of the fruit of a particular tree was wisely suited to the state of our first parents. In their state of innocence, and separated from any others, what opportunity or what temptation had they to break any of the ten commandments? The event proves that the whole human race were concerned in the trial and fall of our first
parents. To argue against these things is to strive against stubborn facts, as well as Divine revelation; for man is sinful, and shows by his first actions, and his conduct ever afterwards, that he is ready to do evil. He is under the Divine displeasure, exposed to sufferings and death. The Scriptures always speak of man as of this sinful character, and in this miserable state; and these things are true of men in all ages, and of all nations.