Teachings – Garden of Eden

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

UNFOLDING THREE

WHERE WE ARE 

Our previous unfolding ended with us thinking about the beauty and wonder of the Garden of Paradise – all that God provided for Adam – and then, despite all of that, Adam’s ate of the forbidden fruit. While Pastor didn’t discuss why Adam ate, he spoke of Adam’s choice and what his choice meant for you and me – all mankind. How did Adam’s decision affect us, 2,000 plus years later? He wrote,

“We were in his loins. He was the ‘Father of us all,’ and on us he has brought the curse of toil, and in us all he has sown the seeds of iniquity.”

 SCRIPTURE

Genesis 3: 8-9

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”

THE GARDEN OF EDEN
UNFOLDING THREE

Grace revealed – right from the beginning of the discourse, Pastor cites the Biblical quotation.

“The Lord God called unto Adam and said, Where art thou?” 

Did Adam – realizing the horrible thing he had done run to God, pleading for mercy? Expressing his sorrow? No. 

Grace. The Lord God pursued Adam. In grace and mercy, God pursues you and me.

“Sin made man a fool. He was once in God’s image, wise; now, since the trail of the serpent has passed over his nature, he has become an errant fool.” 

How was Adam made a fool? Consider Adam’s response: He hid. Pastor Spurgeon asked,

“Is not he indeed mad who would hide from the omniscient Jehovah beneath the spreading bough of trees?” 

“Adam, where art thou?”

According to Pastor, God’s question evokes two truths: (1) Adam was lost, and (2) his call intended to arouse Adam’s sense of being lost. Is this not how God graciously and lovingly appeals to us?

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Adam was lost, and his sin caused it.

THOUGHT GOING FORWARD

Have I ever hidden? You? As foolish as it is to do and admit to, yes. I tried to close my mind off… preoccupy my conscience. I’ve wanted to divert attention away from my guilt, anyway I could – drinking. There are many ways we try to hide.

How did God approach Adam in grace? He came walking in the cool of the day. What does that suggest of God’s demeanor towards the sinner? How else could God have approached with justification? When? What if he walked by and did not say a word to Adam? Deists – who believe that God created the world, but did not involve Himself afterward – would have jumped all over that thought if it was the case.  

IN TRIBUTE TO SPURGEON’S LOVE OF SHORT RHYMES 

In the cool of the day, God walked.
Where are you Adam? He called.
No anger or malice – just grace in his heart.
As if of Adam’s fall, God knew all along.