Gravity of Grace Episode 5: God’s Abundant Provision

To view a video version of this episode, click here

Does anyone have one of those relatives who always had a table spread with food for any visitor who stopped by? I am blessed to have had such a relative in my life: my dad’s late mother, whom we called Mamaw.

Mamaw’s house was always a gathering spot for my extended family. And since she had raised nine children, she had become accustomed to making plenty of food whenever she cooked. You never departed from Mamaw’s house hungry.

I can clearly remember from my childhood that she made birthday cakes every Sunday. Mamaw would make a cake to celebrate any birthday which occurred in the week prior. She would make these for her grown children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren’s birthdays, irrespective of whether those individuals were going to be at her home that week.

Friends, family, and neighbors were a constant presence at Mamaw’s table and in her home. I also remember Mamaw asking her guests if they were hungry and encouraging them to, “Eat, eat.”

It wasn’t until years later, when I saw Genesis 2:16 in Hebrew, that I spotted the repeated word for “eat.” This reminded me of my loving Mamaw, and I realized God delights in providing for His children, just as my dad’s mother delighted in providing for those around her.

I have realized that our benevolent Heavenly Father passes down humanity’s finest qualities to us. And again, a simple passage becomes a source of anticipation, confidence, and hope with just a deeper dive into the words used in the narrative God has given us to guide our lives.

And, if you are wondering, yes—if I spent enough time at Mamaw’s house—there were always some tasks that I could perform. These tasks were never overwhelming, but they provided me with something productive to do.

And looking back on them, I believe they were a part of the joy that I experienced. Acceptance, provision, and accomplishment were the normal trifecta when visiting with Mamaw.

Yes, we are talking about Genesis. And yes, I have introduced an image with the cross in the center of everything happening. An image which portrays our needs met—with food to eat, Divine fellowship to enjoy, and something to do with the path to climb to the top of the hill. The addition of this image was done with forethought and intent.

I made this choice because Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

And the Gospel of John 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (ESV)

With the certainty from such passages that Jesus was perpetually present and that God’s nature does not alter, I chose to underscore Grace by holding the cross before us while addressing Genesis, well before sin’s arrival.

And this causes me to see something familiar when I look at the original work of art God made in the beginning. I see something which resonates within me and brings me joy. I see that acceptance, provision, and a task were the normal trifecta when abiding in a good relationship with God.

God neither intends to dull us through inactivity nor to weigh us down with too many responsibilities. Our Loving Heavenly Father blesses us with essentials: warm fellowship, nourishing food, and a task to carry out.

Permit me to return to a few verses which I skipped in earlier episodes.

Let us consider Genesis 2:15-16.

What type of environment did God place Adam in? What are the differences between a garden and other areas?

Have you ever tended a garden? What was it like? What would it have been like if there were no weeds or destructive insects?

At this point, it is probably wise to share the fact that I hate pulling weeds in the garden. I mean, it is a never-ending battle! And a war that you will lose quickly if you stop participating. OH! And don’t even get me started on destructive insects!

So, let’s return our focus to more pleasant thoughts, shall we?

Have you ever experienced finding fruits, vegetables, or berries growing without cultivation while you were walking in the countryside? What was it like to only need to reach out your hand and pick what you needed to satisfy your hunger?

I remember the soft crunch of leaves and twigs beneath our feet as we walked the hills with my dad, who would eagerly point out the different berries we could gather and enjoy. There was something truly delightful about simply reaching out my hand, plucking a berry from a bush, and savoring a quick, juicy bite that refreshed me as we strolled down the path.

Years later in Honduras, I experienced this again, with the humid air and distant bird calls all around me. But now, bananas and other products such as coconuts were simply an arm’s reach away. By the way, those coconuts were the type you drink from. It was as though I were holding a ready-to-drink lemonade-style refreshment. Within the hot and muggy rainforest, it was truly a blessing.

To be clear, I fully believe that what I experienced pales compared to the beauty and pristine perfection of the creation that Adam knew in those first days. This image is even an insufficient picture compared to what I see in my mind’s eye as I envision the beauty and wonder of what God made.

In verse 15, God had some tasks for Adam in Eden. What were those tasks?

Well, as the text states, Adam was to work and keep this garden that God had provided. You know. Whenever I picture this garden in my head, I don’t see the rows of corn, green beans, and other vegetables from the gardens of my youth. I see something far more beautiful, like being inside a custom-built arboretum with the spacing between things laid out perfectly.

Given the perfect state of Adam’s environment, what does this teach you about our need as humans to have something productive to do each day?

Personally, it reminds me I am happiest when I have something productive to do that I know I will accomplish. Hard enough to offer a challenge, yet not so difficult that I cannot get it done. Such a level of things to do, bring me contentment and joy. How about you?

How do you feel when you can accomplish a task that you set out to do? And how do you feel when you have nothing to do, nothing to accomplish, nothing to give you purpose?

I know. Torture via boredom! I cannot stand it when I have absolutely nothing to do. That level of monotony drives me completely batty! But shall we return to some subjects in Genesis?

Divine fellowship, nourishment, and something to accomplish in our lives.

God offered Adam divine fellowship in coming to spend time with Adam. Jesus continues this pattern as He offers us a new status. “And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” Matthew 12:49-50 (ESV)

God offered Adam nourishment in inviting him to “freely eat” from the life-sustaining abundance God provided. Jesus maintains this pattern as He invites us to life-sustaining connection with Him. “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’” John 6:35 (ESV)

God offered Adam a task Adam could accomplish to give Adam’s life daily purpose and meaning. Jesus continues this pattern as He invites us to live in the joy of a productive life. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:9-11 (ESV)

Jesus offers us fellowship, nourishment, and a joy-producing task. Looks like God truly does not change. Shall we continue with the Genesis narrative?

Genesis 2:16-17 tells us that the Lord God instructed the man, informing him he could unquestionably eat of every tree in the garden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord God explicitly instructed the man that he would inevitably face death if he ate from that tree.

Forgive me, but to share the optimism I find here, I must mention another Hebrew word, Strong’s H398, pronounced “aw-kal’” and translating into the English word “eat.” The Hebrew text repeats this word back-to-back, allowing for the translation “eat, eat.”

At first glance, this word order can seem odd in English, so translators often render it as “freely eat” or “surely eat” to avoid a potentially awkward English sentence.

But then I remember my beloved Mamaw, and the thought that this word choice brings forward for me, this thought remains both beautiful and hope-inspiring.

As you look at this image, you may notice that there is an additional letter tacked on the front of the second use of “aw-kal”. I marked the repetition with a red circle, so you can locate it easily.

That additional letter is the Hebrew letter Taw, which is used in written Hebrew to highlight a mark or seal and carries a sense of completion of fulfillment. It serves as a linguistic marker that can denote the finality or the essence of the concept being expressed.

This also does not change the pronunciation of the word, similar to the many silent letters in English words such as the ‘k’ in know, allowing for “know, no” to mean something very different from “no, no”. With that first set indicating an understanding of the finality of the negative response and the second being merely a repetition like teaching a toddler.

As I pointed out earlier, in this context, it increases the weight of the wording “eat, eat” to carry the commonly used translation of “surely eat” or “freely eat”.

The clearest example I can give for this idea is showing the difference between offering someone a bite to eat and urging them to eat until they’re full. In verse 16, God gives Adam the freedom to eat all he wants, much like indulging at your preferred restaurant’s buffet.

How often have you experienced hospitality that invites you to use the resources your host provides freely? In those times, was there something which remained only for the host’s use and thus was a “do not use” item? What were those items, and did that forbid you from enjoying the hospitality of your host?

What if your host offered you a warning like this? How might you interpret such counsel?

There is clearly a marked difference compared to the liberty expressed in the preceding lines. One could claim that God communicates in a straightforward manner, without beating around the bush. Hearing those words was like a shock of freezing water on a sweltering summer day. And I have no choice but to take them as seriously as possible.

I find encouragement because God set a boundary for His children. And I also find confidence that God allowed them to choose for themselves whether to trust Him and follow His word or to distrust Him. To some, this might seem strange that I find hope in such concepts. I, however, see that God could have denied us this option.

Yet in allowing this option, I perceive God has granted us the privilege of choosing Him back. Our Heavenly Father has not forced Himself upon us. God has always and continues to allow us the liberty to choose Him in response to Him selecting us.

Action Step: Think about, grapple with, and pray about how God provides for our needs. In His lovingkindness, He offers us: Divine fellowship, nourishment for our spirits and bodies, and something to accomplish in our lives which brings us joy. Truly, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

And Jesus (the God-man) maintains the same pattern in the New Testament that we saw in Genesis. Jesus perpetuates the offer of: Divine fellowship, nourishment for our spirits and bodies, and something to accomplish in our lives which brings us joy.

Then Jesus pushes that offer to the max by paying the price for our sins with His blood. He not only redeems. He paid the highest cost to purchase our redemption.

Glory be to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Thank you for joining us on the Gravity of Grace podcast. I am Stephen C. Meade; I am your friend, and you can reach me at Stephen@marblesuspendedinspace.com.

And I would love to hear from you. Until next time, goodbye and God bless!

Again, to view a video version of this episode, click here