Peter Howard
God’s Garden
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Jeremiah 29:4-5
The first home that God gave to Adam and Eve was a garden. They were to tend and care for it. Centuries later Jeremiah wrote to the captive Israelites in Babylon, telling them not to give up. They were to continue to build houses and plant gardens. Gardens are practical in that they produce food. They also sooth the soul and bring peace and calmness to our lives. We can also see the beauty of God in our gardens. It helps us to understand him. Not only are we to plant gardens and enjoy gardens, we are to be planted in God’s garden. God will water us and it is only by being in Christ that we can grow.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11