“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8).
THE COOL OF THE DAY
The Lord God came walking in the garden of Eden in the cool of the day—that time when the evening breeze cools those who have laboured through the heat of the day. We notice that the Lord waited until the appropriate time—a time when he could converse with the man in a relaxed manner.
The Lord did not visit during the day, when the man was working, for the man had been given work to do: For “the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Gen 2:15).
The Lord has made us to work, for Adam it was to work in the garden, to tend it and care for it.
Gardens in southern Mesopotamia, as a general rule, would be layered, with the palm trees being the tallest, then middle and smaller trees like fig, apple, or pomegranate would grow in the shade of the palm leaves. A title for these types of gardens is “shade-tree” as the canopy provided by the taller trees contributed to a moisture rich and cooler atmosphere for the trees growing beneath, which the Mesopotamians considered to be a highly efficient system for gardens. The Lord God came in the cool of the day. We notice that the Lord waited until the appropriate time—a time when he could converse with the man in a relaxed manner.
When the advent of writing began we find out that the Sumerians and Akkadians had words for pomegranates, figs, apples, grapes, plums, pears, and a mix of berries. The palm tree is well suited to the Lower Mesopotamian alluvium but the other fruit trees would take work and need fertilizing and general care and attention.
Date palm trees can grow to over 20 meters and the fruit is located near the tops of the trees. Adam would have to learn how to climb the tree to obtain the fruit. Some date palm trees are still harvested by fit, able-bodied people climbing the trunk without safety harnesses. The technique requires skill and endurance. The knowledge of tending, pruning, and climbing the date palm trees was skilled work that Adam would need to acquire to do his work in an effective way.
There are some good lessons here for us, for we all have work to do. For we have been “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10).
The Lord allowed Adam to get on with his work without interrupting, the man was able to work on his own initiative. I guess that if he ran into a problem with his work, then in the “cool of the day” was the correct time to address the matter with the Lord, who would give Adam the support of his vast knowledge.
We also can work on our own initiative, and in many ways the Lord expects us to. He has made us to work and to get on with our jobs. If we need to talk to him about some matter that has cropped up, then he will be there for us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (Jam 1:5).
So we too, should take time in our “cool of the day”, which may be the morning, afternoon or evening for us, depending on commitments, but either way, having our own quiet time with the Lord serves to strengthen us, help us and encourage us.