WHY ADAM & EVE WERE EXPELLED FROM THE GARDEN
Sometimes the greatest acts of love occur in the most difficult and stressful situations. Sometimes the greatest acts of love from God even occur when we are in the shadows and darkness of sin. Sometimes what seems like total rejection by God is, in fact, a great act of love towards us because God has a greater plan of redemption in the future. Such is the case in the story we know all too well about Adam and Eve. We read about their life in the Garden of Eden before they fell into sin by eating the forbidden fruit from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil." But did you know there was a second tree in that same garden that was very significant and one we rarely ever hear or think about? Yes, it was "the tree of life."
Let me set the scene for you and then write for a moment about what would have happened if God had not intervened after Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
In the Book of Genesis, starting at the end of chapter 1, we read about the creation of man and woman and then read a more detailed account of that creation in chapter 2. Here we also read for the first time in verse 9 about two trees; the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life.
Genesis 2:8-9: "The Lord God planted a garden towards the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (NASB)
So we see that when Adam and Eve were created, they were placed in a garden and in that garden, besides many trees and other delightful things, were two trees of importance; the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
The scriptures go on to state in chapter 2, verses 16 and 17 that "The Lord commanded the man, saying, 'From any tree of the garden {including the tree of life} you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.'"
We know that God was speaking primarily about a spiritual death more than a physical death, although physically, mankind did begin, over a period of time to, in fact, naturally deteriorate and die. This was as a result of sin entering the world along with resulting disease because of the sin of Adam and Eve. Also, there does not appear, at this time, to be any restriction on Adam and Eve being able to eat of the tree of life. They were able to partake of it freely at that time. The Bible does tell us, however, that once Adam and Eve sinned by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that the tree of life was absolutely forbidden of them to eat from. In fact, a spiritual creature or creatures called "cherubim" with a flaming sword were stationed near the tree of life to guard both the tree and the path to it from mankind once Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:24 - "So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.") There was nothing to guard access to that tree of life until after Adam and Eve sinned. So they were able to partake of it prior to then and certainly that is one big reason why, at the beginning of creation, that mankind lived so long. In fact, although speculation to some, it appears possible that man may have lived forever had he not sinned and fallen from the state that God initially created him to be. Certainly God already had a plan for man's redemption through Jesus Christ and knew man would, in fact, fall to the temptations of the serpent known as Satan by eating of the forbidden fruit. However, man was still given his and her own free choice to make that decision and, prior to the eating of that fruit, they were sinless and therefore, would not have required redemption at that time. It is certainly conceivable that Adam and Eve hypothetically "could" have lived forever. Of course, we know Adam and Eve failed, made the wrong choice and because of that choice, eternal life with God could only be obtained through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ at a future time. He was "the Lamb slain BEFORE the foundation of the earth," as the scriptures say, so we know that God foreknew that man would fall in the garden and that He had a back-up plan for man's reconciliation to Himself through Christ Jesus.
So, the final question is, "What would have happened to Adam and Eve, had they been able to remain in the garden of Eden while in a sinful state of being?" God actually addressed that issue and exhibited one of the greatest and first acts of love towards mankind, as we shall see.
Genesis 3:21-24: The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" - therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life."
Do you understand the significance of what God understood and then did?
In review, first He showed His continued love for Adam and Eve in the fact that despite their eating the forbidden fruit and thus sinning, He still loved them as His creation and He compassionately clothed them. I think although God knew Adam and Eve would ultimately make the choice they did, He may have been very sad at that moment. If there was rain in the Garden of Eden that day, it may truly have been God's tears. He really loved Adam and Eve. He has always loved mankind. One of God's final acts before banishing the couple from the garden was to compassionately and personally make clothing for them. How moving this is when you think about it! Like a parent clothing his child for the very last time before he sends him or her away on a long and uncertain journey.
Secondly, God understood that it was necessary to banish Adam and Eve from the garden and to place a guard around the tree of life because He did not want man to return and eat of that tree while in a sinful state and then "live forever” as men and women on earth in a sinful and hopeless state. That would have happened if, after sinning, they had then eaten of the tree of life. God says they would have lived "forever." Imagine how terrible that would have been? There would have been suffering, pain, disease, sickness and futility without end. Life would, in fact, have become a living hell for mankind forever. Adam and Eve would have become immortal in their sinful condition and state. Can you imagine, just for a moment, the possibility of literally living forever as sinners, without any chance of redemption or transformation? If Adam and Eve were not banished from the garden and allowed to partake of the tree of life in their sinful condition, that easily would have happened and become reality. They would have never had to face the finality of death but would have been condemned forever to exist without end in a sinful and terrible state of being. In short, Satan would have won. There is no doubt, had God not banished Adam and Eve from the garden, that Satan's very next move would have been to send them directly to the tree of life and have them eat of it while in a sinful state. So in one of the greatest acts of love ever, God banished Adam and Eve from the garden so that at a future time, He could send His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for our sins and the sins of Adam and Eve. Through His death and resurrection we then would no longer have to live under a curse, or be eternally damned but we could be redeemed through the act of accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We could then be reconciled back to God as it was in the beginning. By pronouncing judgment on Adam and Eve at that time and then banishing them from the garden, God prevented Adam and Eve from eternal sinfulness by giving them the gift of death; thus for all mankind, the ability to exist in this life and still arrive safely in the wonderful life to come. Because of the consequences of Adam and Eve's sin, even though forgiven, we all must now die at some point, yet through Jesus Christ's sacrifice for man's sins, we can all now live eternally with God in heaven and be forever reconciled to Him.
May the Lord bless this word to your heart.
Mischa S. Safdie’
Mischa Safdie’Ministries
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