Eden: God’s Classroom

The “Education in the Garden of Eden”* Sabbath School lesson led me to realize that Eden was God’s first classroom. “The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden” (Genesis 2:8, 9, KJV).

Here our first parents were to receive their education. Ellen White described it this way, “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.”† God gave Adam dominion over the work of His hands. He gave Adam the authority to name all the creatures God had made. Adam also gave Eve her name: “She shall be called Woman [Isha], because she was taken out of Man [Ish]” (Genesis 2:23, KJV). Although we don’t think of a garden as a schoolroom, it makes perfect sense, especially one like Eden, filled with the unspoiled riches of God’s creation. From our perspective today, it is hard to imagine how much these unfallen beings —in an unfallen world and being directly taught by their Creator— must have been learning in their classroom. Had Adam and Eve remained obedient to God, they would have received in their Eden classroom their “doctoral degree,” which is eternal life.

They could have continued to eat from the tree of life forever.

The highest “degree” anyone can receive is eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Moselle Slaten Blackwell