The Literal Meaning of Genesis
BOOK EIGHT 49 so God in a much deeper sense cultivates man, whom He has created and made man, so that he may be made just if he does not turn away from his Creator by pride. For this is to apostatize from God, which Scripture calls the beginning of pride: The beginning of man's pride is to depart from the Lord.58 God is the immutable Good, whereas man in both soul and body is a mutable being. Therefore, unless man turns towards the immutable Good, which is God, and stands firm in Him, he cannot be formed so as to be just and happy.°?
Therefore, the same God who creates man and makes him man also cultivates man and guards him so that he may be good and happy. Hence, in the very statement wherein man is said to cultivate the earth (which was already earth) so that it may be adorned and fruitful, there also God is said to cultivate man (who was already man) so that he may be devout and wise, and to guard him, because when he takes more delight in the power he has in himself than in that of God, who is above him, and when he condemns the authority of God, man cannot be safe.
CHAPTER 11
The author of Genesis teaches us that God 1s our true Lord (Gen. 2.15).
24. Here we should observe a fact which I think has a lesson for us and calls our attention to something important. From the opening line of this sacred book, starting with the words, In the beginning God created heaven and earth, all the way to this point in the narrative, the expression "Lord God" is never used but only "God."®° But now, when God placed the man in Paradise in order to cultivate and guard him by His guidance, Scripture says, And the Lord God took the man whom He made and placed him in Paradise to cultivate and guard him.®}
The author is not implying that God is not Lord of the creatures mentioned above. But this account was written for man, not for the angels or other creatures, and it was to remind him how important it is for him to recognize God as his Lord, that