Please join us as we discover how God Uses Everyday Things, Even a Pool Table, To Teach Us About Him.
Supporting Scriptures for "Garden Of Eden:" Genesis 2:8-17
So far in our Billiard Bible Studies, we have learned that the white cue ball will remind us of God, the completeness of His creation and the goodness of the world that we live in. We have also learned that the number "1" ball is a reminder that God not only created man from dust, but also breathed life into him. But where was the first created man, Adam, going to live. Let's find out.
Then God planted a garden in the east which we commonly refer to today as the "Garden of Eden." We are going to use the pool table accessory of the triangle, or rack, to represent the garden.
But where is this area in the east called Eden? Honestly, we don't know for sure, but the Bible gives us geographic reference points of four rivers flowing out of the garden so that we know that the garden was located somewhere in the land that we know of today as the Middle East.
Now God placed the man, Adam, that He had created in the garden in order to care for it.
Side Note From The Author: This is why I enjoy reading the Bible in small bite size pieces. I have heard this story numerous times in my life just as I am sure that many of you have also and I always assumed that Adam just started out in the garden. But according to the Bible:
God created Adam, then God planted the garden, and then God placed Adam in the garden.
Now if you are ever asked in a trivia game, "True or false? Adam lived in the Garden of Eden when God created him." You will know that the answer is __________?
"GARDEN OF EDEN"
STUDY QUESTIONS:
Question 1
Four rivers branched out from the river that flowed through the Garden of Eden. What were the names of these four rivers?
Genesis 2:10-14 - "A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. One of these branches is the Pishon, which flows around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. The second branch is the Gihon, which flows around the entire land of Cush. The third branch is the Tigris, which flows to the east of Asshur. The fourth branch is the Euphrates."
Question 2
In today's terminology, what might have been Adam's job titles?
Genesis 2:15 - "The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it."
Genesis 2:19-20 - "So the Lord God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, birds, and wild animals. But still there was not a companion suitable for him."
Question 3
Adam's responsibility, or work, was to care for the Garden of Eden. What should our attitude be toward work?
Ecclesiastes 2:10 - "Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy. I even found great pleasure in hard work, an additional reward for all my labors."
Ecclesiastes 2:24 - "So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God."
Ecclesiastes 3:22 - "So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why they are here!"
Ecclesiastes 5:19 - "And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - that is indeed a gift from God."
Colossians 3:23 - "Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."
Question 4
What precious stones were found in and around the Garden of Eden?
Genesis 2:12 - "The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there."
Ezekiel 28:13 - "You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone - red carnelian, chrysolite, white moonstone, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald - all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created."
Question 5
What precious stones will be found in the Holy City, also called the New Jerusalem, where those who believe will spend eternity with God?
Ponder the similarities between the original Garden of Eden where God desired man to live and the future Holy City where God desires man to live.
Revelation 21:18-21 - "The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve gems, the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls - each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass."
