#17 Organized Vegetation

The Book of Genesis Day 17 Ge 2:4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. Chapter one of Genesis gives us an overview of creation and chapter two gets more into the detail of creation especially as it relates to the beginning of man and woman. We might say, “this is the way it went down.” Vegetation had come forth from the earth on the third day of creation, but it was not organized. There were no gardens, no fields of corn, oats, soybeans, rice, or hay. The use of the phrase, “plant and herb of the “FIELD” indicates a cultivated plot of land. Regular crops from the field would require the addition of man to tend them , and a cycle of rain. This rain is referred to in the Bible as the former and latter rain, or we might say the spring and fall cycle of rain necessary for producing a yield. Jas 5:7 says, “ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” These rains are vital and are a gift from God and something farmers have prayed for since the beginning of creation. Zec 10:1 Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone. Before God created man, the beasts of the field grazed on the land which received the moisture needed for growth from a steady (I would imagine,) morning mist. But once man was on the scene God planted a garden and gave Adam the charge of tending it. “This is how it went down.,” This is the history. I love driving down the rural roads of Wisconsin when the crops begin to appear in late spring and early summer. Row after row, neatly arranged, cultivated, and set in a pattern designed for easy harvest by our modern day “Adams.” The patterns that we see in our fields today have their roots in what we read here today in Genesis, and ought to cause us all to pause and reflect and give thanks to God our creator. He created it all, He organized it all in the Garden, He saw it all, and He pronounced it very good. We ought to do the same. Reflect: Consider what must take place for you to have a bowl of cereal in the morning. How much of what you eat is dependent upon God. How much does man contribute? Pray: Thank You Father, for Your care of the earth and Your care for us. Help us to be good stewards of what You have given us.