Gen. 2:5
Before it was in the earth…before it grew
God created the plants of the earth, in all their variety, totally mature. There was no need to create seeds, and then wait for things to grow. He had everything available for them, however, just as He provides for all of us.
In the discussion of the third day, it was noted the plants were made before the sun. Here, we learn they were created before it had rained, too. Whether it ever rained before the Flood is less certain, but these plants certainly thrived without it. They also survived without anyone cultivating it. And, everything was in place for them to spread their seeds and expand all over the earth.
It’s stunning – yet expected – that people have become so prideful that they try to regulate where seeds can grow, and insist on farmers not using seeds from nature, but only seeds produced by some company. God provided fruits, vegetables, and other foods from the foundation of the world, and mankind insists on trying to control it.
Not a man to till the ground
Not only was there no rain, just a mist from the earth, there was nobody to till the ground at first.
It’s little wonder that Jesus spoke of Creation that even Solomon in all his glory wasn’t like one of these. Seeds could go anywhere, blow anywhere, and be placed where God wanted. B birds could be fed on them, yet there would be plenty left over for the next generation of plants. This was a perfectly designed system. And yet, mankind in his fallen state has ruined it on more than one occasion. Man-made famines have occurred in history, killing millions of people in some cases. Greed, wickedness, and selfishness have caused countless problems.
Of course, God wanted man to till the ground. He set it up that way so mankind could revel in God’s awesome creation. Just as I wept tears of joy at seeing another world through the Mars rover, God knew someone who was close to land might find it easier to commune with Him, as such a person would see the splendor of His creation more consistently. The men and women on the farm could enjoy the spectacle of nature. They could consider God’s great provision in the former and latter rains. There is a reason that rural communities, quite often, are more conservative and down-to-earth. Sin means that they aren’t perfect, either. But, they do appreciate much more of Creation because they are closer to God and all that He has done. They don’t experience – and thus don’t get caught up in - all the manmade things one sees in the big cities.
