DOMINION MANDATE

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it – Genesis 2:15

Dominion was at the core of God’s grand design for humanity at creation. God made sure He had created all other things before bringing forth Adam. He then gave Man the mandate to “exercise dominion over” other creatures in the earth, in the air, and in the sea (Gen.1:26-29). Man received the mandate to reign, to bear rule, to be in charge, to oversee, and to be responsible for the rest of creation. He began to discharge that mandate creditably well: “And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof” (Gen.2:19). What superb intelligence!

Man’s abode, Eden was planted and fully equipped by God Himself: “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food…” (Gen.2: 8-9a). There was neither ugliness nor lack therein; everything was living, pleasant, and nourishing. Eden was a place of beauty and order; a city of comfort, without struggles. The very name “Eden” signifies “pleasure”! Eden was a watered garden; totally devoid of dryness or drought; nourished by the rivers Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates. It was a place of exquisite beauty, luxuriant provisions, abundant prosperity, and inexhaustible resources. Eden was continually bathed with unceasing flows of Rivers of Resources such as the good gold, bdellium, and the onyx in the land of Havilah (v.11-12). Eden was rich in gems, treasures, and resources.

Above all, in Eden, man operated in dominion professionally and maritally. Eden was not merely a ‘shelter’ from the weather; it was Adam’s place of Responsibility and Resourcefulness. He was empowered for productivity: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (v.15). It was man’s “work” and responsibility to dress, cultivate and preserve the garden from all intruders; to hedge about, guard, and protect the garden. Work was not a consequence of the fall; tortuous labour was. God is a Worker; and He made Man to also be very productive; such work that would be enjoyable and fulfilling. Unfortunately, Adam failed to “keep” Eden from the intruder and paid dearly for it.

God climaxed His creative work with the construction of that work of beauty – the Woman to fully complement His Man. Marriage was instituted; the Home was born! God constructed Eve out Adam’s rib, providing for him a help suitable intellectually, morally, and physically (v.20-25). The woman was not taken out of the man’s head to be lorded over by him, nor from his feet to be trampled on by him, but from his side to be equal with him, and from under his arm to be protected by him, and from near his heart to be loved by him. Eden was indeed the domain of marital bliss and harmony, filled with promises of thrilling tomorrows. Alas, Sin slaughtered virtually all of the promises; but for the Mercy of Redemption!