Sabbath: Education in the Garden of Eden
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Genesis 2:7-23; Genesis 3:1-6; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 2 Peter 2:1-17; Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17, Hebrews 13:24.
Memory Text: “Behold, God is exalted by His power; who teaches like Him?” (Job 36:22, NKJV).
Most Bible students know the story of Genesis 1-3 and its cast of characters: God, Adam, Eve, the angels, the serpent. The setting is a splendid garden in a paradise called “Eden.” The plotline seems to follow a logical series of events. God creates. God instructs Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve sin. Adam and Eve are banished from Eden. However, a closer look at the first few chapters of Genesis, especially through the lens of education, will uncover insights into the cast, the setting, the story.
“The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a model for man throughout all aftertime. As an illustration of its principles a model school was established in Eden, the home of our first parents. The Garden of Eden was the schoolroom, nature was the lesson book, the Creator Himself was the instructor, and the parents of the human family were the students.” — Ellen G. White, Education, p. 20.
The Lord was founder, principal, and teacher of this first school. But as we know, Adam and Eve ultimately chose another teacher and learned the wrong lessons. What happened, why, and what can we learn from this early account of education that can help us today?
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 3.
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I can still remember my son saying to me when he was about five years old, "Hey look at this. When you add 2 + 3 and 3 + 2, you get the same answer!" With my own background in maths, I was really quite excited about this because at the age of five he had learned the commutative law of addition all by himself. It was a foretaste of things go come because he ultimately gained his PhD in maths and is currently employed as a mathematician and software engineer on sensitive defence work.
The excitement of learning is something that has driven me through most of my career and to see my son excited at the discovery of a mathematical principle that he did not even know a name for was very satisfying. I can understand our first parent's excitement in learning and discovering at the beginning of time.
The question we should ask ourselves at the beginning of this quarter is: Is our spiritual education a journey of experiential discovery or are we satisfied with the vicarious approach of reading about what others have done?
As children of God, we have to learn from Him. In Mark 1:35, it stated that Jesus used to spend time every morning educating himself. We have to do the same today. We are living in a world that is teaching us how to sin. Sometimes the influence the world has on us is greater than His word.
Even though we are in this world but we shouldn’t live like it according to Jesus. In Matthew 11: 28 - 30, “ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (NIV).” Are we willing to let Jesus teach us or will we be like the religious leaders who believe they know it all? In Revelation 3, one of the sins of Laodicea Is that they believe they know everything while they don’t know much. The same a child depends on his/her parents, let us depend on God like that. He will teach us and lead us in heaven. Happy sabbath and May His love and mercy be upon you all. Amen.
I believe that true education is learning the Principles of Life found in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and applying them to my life.
Knowledge without experience or Experience without knowledge are like rowing on one only one side of the canoe, you will just go around in circles.
Knowledge can be gained from/with others but application is personal.
Shirley - I am happy to read your comments and very much appreciate you pointing out this Scripture which reveals the process as the work of our Salvation progresses through our life lived by Faith in Jesus' Gospel Message.
Yes, we receive more and more understanding about the why, who and what we are experiencing as we walk by the Light of the Gospel by Faith.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels and have not charity I become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Cor 13:1-13
Tongues of men= having a command and can speak and interpret several languages so you are in high demand. People can look up to you in time of need, then you carry a high price.
Education in the Garden of Eden
True education is well defined as the harmonious development of all the faculties—a full and adequate preparation for this life and the future eternal life. It is in the early years in the home and in the formal schoolwork that the mind develops, a pattern of living is established, and character is formed. {Ed 7.3}
When I was younger in the SDA faith I heard people always spoke about education as limited to going to an Adventist school (primary to tertiary). As I got older I realized education is far much more than going to school. It compasses the entirety of human.
“The knowledge of the holy is understanding; “Acquaint now thyself with Him.”
Our ideas of education take too narrow and too low a range. There is need of a broader scope, a higher aim. True education means more than the pursue of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come. {Ed 13.1}
It was love for humans that Jesus gave the set plan in Eden. Let love cont to be our guide as we cont along this quarter. Love for our creator and love for humans.
So happy to see that we will be learning about ‘Education’ in this new quarterly! For me, education begins with instilling in the individual the love of learning. Every educator would want to see his pupil know how to learn first, not only teach him/her what to learn.
The word-language used for learning about anything has to match the capacity of the learner to understand the vocabulary used. Sometime, in a creative mind, concepts are understood before they are taught, but progress in learning always depends on the understanding of the word-language used when communicating thoughts.
For example, I do not speak the ‘computer’ language. Incrementally, over a long period of time, I learned some of the vocabulary this language uses, but still struggle with the application of these ‘words’; meaning, I do not fully comprehend how they are used.
Ellen White comments: “The system of education instituted at the beginning of the world was to be a model for man throughout all aftertime.” This system also includes the language the instruction was given in. Man, originally, understood and spoke the spiritually conveyed language of the Instructor, His Creator.
What happened that we do not understand Him any longer and what needs to be done in order for us to receive/understand instruction from Him again which we can apply in this life we live now, after the separation from our Creator/Instructor?
His Son in the form of Jesus came to offer us to enroll in the course of Salvation – He re-established the original relationship with the Instructor; we will be able to hear and understand the Instructor and His instructions. We can now again be enrolled as students in His classroom, enjoying the learning about the Love of our Creator Father.
I am enrolled in His course and are eager to learn as much about Him, the content of His Lesson Plan and His teaching-style as He reveals to me – in one word – sharing in His LOVE of his creation!
Brigitte, I too am enrolled in this school from since I can remember. He speaks to me over and over again but many times I just do not get it. He is my instructor and teacher and I am so interesting in knowing what he knows. I am interesting in asking if he has a grading system? (0-100,100-0). One thing I knew is, we all have our own test in life just like Adam and Eve. I am trying by his grace to be successful. Many if not all of the bible characters have failed several times but was successful after. Jesus, Joseph and Daniel have a perfect passing record. Am I a Joseph, a Daniel? Dont think so. I just want to love him so much that I am willing to go all the way with him. He will never give me more than I can bear but will make a way of escape. I have escaped many earthy test and got a passing grade, does he gave passing grades like earthy teachers? I want to love my fellow humans like myself but at times things get complicated and I bow out.
Hi Lyn,
Your insight is inspired, the Holy Ghost has given you this revelation. I am tremendously blessed!!
Looking around at this present world we live in, where so many are light years away from this original setting given by God for man to live and learn in. The urban/suburban life may easily extinguish all knowledge and practical thoughts of God from the life focused on the vanity found universally in these artificial surroundings. So much importance is given to that which is meaningless and nothing more than vain displays of pride. How well Satan has succeeded in making God unbelievable to most while they believe and seek things that have no eternal or practical value. What attracts mankind to that which will soon be left as ashes upon this earth? Most are still seeking the knowledge evil.