When we looked at the previous week’s blog we saw that the plan from before time was forgiveness.  Let’s look at the beginning of that.

We all know the story of how the serpent tricked Eve into eating forbidden fruit. She gave some to the man and he ate.  They then realized that everything had changed.  The Bible says they knew they were naked.  There is a deeper meaning to this though that we don’t always see.  What do they do?  They try to hide.  Their nakedness was more than nudity.  It was a revelation of a new reality. 

I’m stripped bare before an almighty God.  He knows my heart.  The heart He made.  The heart I corrupted through disobedience.

We’re just scratching the surface of the knowledge of good and evil.  I can’t possibly list all of the ramifications of it here.  But here’s one.

You see that knowledge wasn’t only about the good and evil in front of us, behind us and surrounding us.  It was about the good and evil inside of us.  That’s the very knowledge that makes us realize how truly unworthy we are to be in the presence of God.  Hence they hide.  They separated themselves from God.  Read Genesis 3:1-7.  Notice the serpent didn’t mention all that.

What happens next is often misconstrued as punishment.  It’s not that at all.  It’s a reality check.  It’s a contrast of the way things are in the garden and the way things are outside of the garden. Read Genesis 3:8-19.  I’m not going to go through it here in the interest of time.  Please look at it through the lens of contrast.  The words that God tells them here are bold, honest, and most importantly they don’t show any sign of anger.  The tone of the text is remorseful not angry.  Even towards the serpent.  We often read anger into these actions but the next verses make it clear that He is pointing out that they’re going to have to move.  You’ve sinned.  I can’t be in the presence of sin as you now know thanks to that tree.  This is my garden.  You can’t be here.  However I am going to help where I can.  I’ve got a plan.

Genesis 3:21 CSB
[21] The Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them.

The reality is that God had every right to be angry.  But look at the actions he takes.

First God kills an animal and makes skins for the man and his wife.  Here’s how I know He wasn’t angry.  We often miss this.  He had every right to just boot them and let them fend for themselves but He didn’t.  He killed some of his creations to make clothing.  Cain (Genesis 4) was not the first to draw blood on the earth.  God was.  The next piece shows even more love.

And He clothed them.  He didn’t just throw the clothes on the ground and then yell, get dressed.  He dressed them the same as you’d dress your 4 year old child before sending them out to the bus stop in the cold.  That’s not the act of an angry God.  It’s the act of a loving Father.

Now let’s tie this up.

Genesis 3:22 CSB
[22] The Lord God said, “Since the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”

This might have been how that conversation sounded.  Guys,  man has sinned.  They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  As much as I’d like to let them stay, they can’t.  In their sin, if they eat from the tree of life they’ll live forever.  Separated from us.  I love them too much for that to be allowed to happen.  Let’s move them out. 

Genesis 3:23-24 CSB
[23] So the Lord God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. [24] He drove the man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.

The plans in place.  Man will have to die so that He may live.  He’ll have a rough go of it but We’ll be with him.

John 3:16-17 CSB
[16] For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The plan of the cross is an unbelievably loving act to give forgiveness through Consequences.

Will you respond?

Non Christian.  Call out to God.  Tell him that you recognize that you’re a sinner and that you believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sin.  Ask Jesus to come live in you.

Christian. Share the Gospel! Share it like it’s the last words they might hear.  Share it like it’s the last words you might say.  Man must die to live.  Last words are a thing after Genesis 3.  Love like God.

Love in Christ

Colby