A
Different Lesson from the Garden of Eden
Inspired by a
lesson from one of my teachers, Les Feldick (https://www.lesfeldick.org/ )
When
Christians read the Bible from the beginning, they are usually drawn to the
story of the first man Adam and his wife Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis
Chapter Three) The focus is most often
directed to the deception of the Serpent (Satan) and the tactics he used to
convince Eve to defy the command of the Creator LORD God by eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Further, she gave the fruit of the tree to Adam, and he also ate it. (Genesis
2: 16-17, 3: 6)
Many
discussions have taken place as to the circumstances surrounding this
commission of this first recorded “sin” in the Bible, including: Why did Adam
accept the fruit from Eve and eat it when the command from God was clearly given
specifically to him? When and how did Eve learn of God’s command? What would
have happened if Adam had not taken the fruit from Eve? Etc. But in this post
I’d like to examine a different aspect of what the Scripture would like for
readers to learn from this important chapter.
The entire
Bible’s focus is to teach us about Jesus, the Son of God. Therefore this
discussion will look at a lesson He, as the LORD God, teaches as to how God would
respond to man when he commits sin “after the Garden”. As with other lessons,
the answers are not obvious from the beginning, but become clearer after some
time. [In that regard, the Scripture
later also reveals that God will keep things secret / as mysteries, until He is
ready to reveal them. But when He reveals them He expects us to believe them.
(Deuteronomy 29: 29)]
The key
points to the LORD God’s treatment of Adam and Eve lie in the steps He took to
restore His beloved creation man to Himself. In short, the two keys are
captured in the two words: “blood” and “faith”. These two factors were and continue to be the
basics for sinful man’s gaining righteousness in the eyes of God, and avoiding
the punishment of spiritual death (eternal separation from God) that
resulted from Adam’s original sin as noted above. (Revelation 20: 11-15) Note that Adam’s “spiritual death” /
separation from God is what prompted the LORD God to ask the question of Adam:
“Where art thou?” (Genesis 3: 9)
Re Blood:
Later in the
Scripture, it is revealed that: “…without shedding of blood is no remission
(of sin).” (Hebrews 9: 22) That phrase is part of a larger discussion
in that chapter of the Book of Hebrews about the role of blood sacrifices in
the Nation of Israel, and their relevance for the people in their worship and
ceremonial practices . Blood had to be shed to provide atonement for sin.
Returning to
the Garden of Eden, note what some consider to be the relatively insignificant
verse in Genesis Chapter Three that says: “Unto
Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed
them.” (Verse 21)
The earlier
verses of the chapter explained that Adam and Eve “…knew
that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves
aprons.” (Verse 7) The knowledge
of their “nakedness” was a sign that they had gained information
previously unknown to them, but was then revealed by eating of the forbidden Tree
of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Further, their nakedness was a sign that they had lost the
cover of the “Righteousness / Glory of God” that He had given them when He gave
them dominion over the Earth and its creatures. (Genesis 1: 27-28)
What was not
described in detail was: Why did the LORD God make coats of skins when they had
already covered their nakedness? What animal skins did He use and how did He
get them? How many animals were sacrificed to make the coats? Etc.
What was
implied was that one or more “innocent” animals were sacrificed to shed
their blood, so that their skins could be used as described above. Further,
the LORD God (Jesus) had determined that the self-efforts of the “sinners” were
not acceptable to God to atone for their offenses. God alone could determine
what was needed. In that manner He determined the means by which He Himself
would serve as the “human sacrifice to shed His Innocent Blood” to provide
for the complete remission of sins for all mankind. This was one of the two key / critical steps
in restoring man’s “righteousness” in the eyes of God.
Re Faith
Also later in
the Scripture, it is revealed that: “…without faith it is impossible to
please Him (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11: 6) In
“regaining righteousness” in the eyes of God, it was necessary for Adam to
demonstrate his faith in the God he had just sinned against. But again, it is important to note not only
what is said, but also what is not said.
In another “relatively
insignificant verse” in Genesis Chapter Three, the Scripture says: “And Adam
called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”
(Genesis 3: 20) Once again, the Scripture raises additional questions that seem
to go unanswered. For example, What is the relationship between the name “Eve”
and being “the mother of all living? Since they were the first male and female
human beings, to whom was Adam referring when he said: “all living”? Without definitive scriptural proof, I’m
going to try to guess at one possible answer.
When we read
the story of the Creation, we remember that it took six days. (Genesis Chapter
One). Further, unlike our usual system of time today, the day began in the Evening.
Could it be that Adam took the name “Eve” from the word “Evening”,
meaning the “Beginning of Humanity”? If
so, or even if another theory is correct, that would raise another question. The
LORD God (Jesus) had just told Adam that the punishment for sin included the
death of the physical body. (Genesis 2: 17, 3: 19) Man’s logic would conclude that their lives
were almost over, rather than just beginning. But Adam must have had additional
information.
The other source
of that information could only have been the eternal Creator and LORD God
(Jesus). Only He would know and be able to tell Adam and Eve that they would
have children and begin the intended “replenishment” of the Earth. (Genesis 1: 27-28)
For Adam to act on that knowledge
required “Faith”, that is, believing what God has said. Not only did Adam and
Eve have at least the three sons cited in the scripture (Cain, Abel and
Seth)(Genesis Chapters Four and Five)…but Adam lived 930 years before he met
his physical death. (Genesis 5: 5)
Faith as a key factor in man’s salvation
and return to righteousness over early Bible history is the subject of Hebrews
Chapter Eleven…the “Faith Chapter”. I encourage you to read it again. Today our faith is expressed by believing in
the Lord Jesus and what He accomplished to restore us to God through the
shedding of His innocent blood. In
this manner He died, and was buried…but on the third day He was resurrected,
being victorious over death. (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; Romans 10: 9-13) Through faith in His blood He has provided man
with the means to gaining the righteousness that Adam lost. In the eyes of God,
these are the two factors that lead to the
salvation and eternal life for man’s spirit and soul. (Genesis 1: 26-27,
2: 7) This is the Gospel of God’s Grace, through our Lord Jesus.
Dr. W. A.
(Bill) Robinson
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