Garden Dominion

When I think of 'taking dominion', often the first thing that comes to mind is tending the garden, since God originally placed man in the garden to "work it and keep it" (Gen 2:15). It is important to note that work is not a ramification of sin (but death is - Romans 6:23). After the Fall this labor became toilsome and arduous.







Genesis 3:17-19 "cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Before the Fall, Adam and Eve didn't need leather gloves to protect their hands as they pruned, pulled, or plucked. My little ones didn't have gloves, but they helped me search for these cursed prickly, thistle weeds. We are to be discerning and train our children to judge between good fruit and bad fruit (Matthew 7:16-20).

Also, in the past when I have worked in the garden, I was reminded of Jesus' many parables that related spiritual truths to the understanding of the common folk. For example, I praise God for His patience, grace, and justice demonstrated in Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 , and the hope I have in the day when all the causes of sin and those who do evil will be removed and burned. First this happens, "then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (v.43)