BibleProject | Heaven and Earth on the MountainSample

Was Eden on a Mountain?

Welcome to the first day of The Mountain reading plan. Mountains are so significant to biblical authors that a strong literary mountain theme develops from Genesis to Revelation. In the Bible, mountains are not just geographical locations but places of encounter with God, where Heaven and Earth meet. Each day, we will explore this theme and, by doing so, discover deeper meanings woven into key events that happen on mountains.

Let’s begin in Genesis with Earth’s first garden. Guess where God plants it?

While the Eden story mentions no mountains, we learn from Ezekiel that this first “garden of God” is found on the “mountain of God” (Ezek. 28:13-14). Eden is a lush orchard, which God plants for human flourishing and life in his presence (Gen. 2:8-9, 3:8). Here, the divine and human realms are one, and a river of life flows out from it to nourish life in the surrounding lands (2:10).

After filling this mountain orchard with fruit trees, God presents the humans with a test, instructing them to stay away from one single tree—the tree of knowing good and bad. To remain in the garden, they must choose to trust in his wisdom.

But the humans distrust God and disregard his instruction (3:1-6). Choosing to do what’s right in their own eyes, they bring corruption to the world around them (3:7-19). So God removes them from the mountain garden (3:24).

Since then, God has been working to return humanity to that mountaintop where they will dwell in his presence once again and find true life.

Reflection Questions:
The first human beings face a significant choice. They can trust God’s wisdom, which brings life, or they can trust their own wisdom, which brings death. What are some areas where we face a similar decision between following God's instruction or doing what's right in our own eyes?

What do you learn from Genesis 2:4-17 about God’s original intent for human life?