Hawking isn't claiming God took care of the tree either, that seems to be your interpretation. I realize it's not the best example, as a tree is not a closed system, but it fits what Hawking is saying fairly well.

Life adapted to the universe, not vice versa. Yes, our location is fairly conducive to life (far from perfect, of course) but that is to be expected in the vastness of the universe. It only has to work once for us to be here to talk about it

Also, a beginning doesn't imply creation at all - it could be some sort of odd quantum leap type event, or the effect of another universe, or the reemergence of a universe which had collapsed back into a singularity, or countless other things. I don't immediately attribute anything I don't understand to the work of God.

Anyway. To keep the metaphor going, if you are suggesting that intelligent design means God threw the seed with the intention of it growing into a tree, and aimed at a patch of soil that would be good for the tree, than no, I can't argue with you. There's no proof either way, but it is an interesting philosophy.