The Garden - the BRIDE

In Hebrew the first letter ALEF is numerically equivalent to JEHOVAH - thus ALEF - declares JEHOVAH God - 'one' as beginning - 1000 as 'end'.    GOD is known to be without 'beginning or end' - but yet also He is the 'beginning and the end', the first and the last.  God 'in the BEGINNING' reveals Himself as ELOHIM - not only as GOD, but GOD - the HIGHEST, RULER, JUDGE - even 'ANGEL' (messenger of the Lord) - CHRIST / MESSIAH.  Genesis 1 reveals GOD as ALEF.

Genesis 2 sets the stage for Christ, SON of GOD, SON of MAN.  For now - to look at the aspect of God 'PLANTING a GARDEN -EASTWARD - in EDEN. 

No one wants to be loved out of duty or obligation, but from heartfelt desire.  GOD is LOVE.  And in His 'planting a GARDEN, which also by concordance is used figuratively of the BRIDE, He desires the BRIDE to 'choose Him'.  God's PLANTING  reveals the 'seed life' (fish / procreative sperm), the SERPENT, and the SHEPHERD.  If she chooses the SERPENT then it can be said:

^{John 8:33 - 44}
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, 

      and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 

     ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 

      John 16

        8  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, 

            and of righteousness, and of judgment:  

        9  of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  

      10  of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  

      11  of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

 

35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 

36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

37  I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, 
      because My word has no place in you.  
38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, 
      and you do what you have seen with your father.”
39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”
     Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.   
40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. 
     Abraham did not do this.  
41 You do the deeds of your father.”
      Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, 
      for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.   
43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.  
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. 
     He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, 
     because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, 
     for he is a liar and the father of it.

If one's choice is God - in Christ, then it is said:

Romans 8:14-17

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, 

     but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed 

     we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

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