Journeying in Genesis: Victory!

“Then the LORD God said,

“Behold, the man has become like one of us

in knowing good and evil.

Now, lest he reach out his hand

and take also of the tree of life and eat,

and live forever—”

therefore the LORD God sent him out

from the garden of Eden

to work the ground from which he was taken.

He drove out the man,

and at the east of the garden of Eden

he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword

that turned every way

to guard the way to the tree of life.”

Genesis 2:22-24

The clear and present danger was man eating of the tree of life and living forever in this state. In this exile God reveals His mercy by sending Adam away and setting guards around the tree of life. God would not allow our hope of redemption to fall short before accomplishing the work necessary. Jesus would come to set us free from sin and the wrath of God to provide for true eternal life. The Creator would be marred for the creation.

Man was sent to work the very ground from which he was taken. We are dust. We exist because God wills it. This is His world and His show. The arrogance of mankind is evident as humans grab at the wheel. But God is restoring order. Though He drove the man out, the guard was set at the east – the direction from which the Lord will return. The Lord who died for us and rose again. The Lord who restores our purpose to glorify God.

I can’t think of a better way to close than 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 as we rejoice in Christ and look forward to the fullness of restoration and an eternity to praise our God for His love, mercy, grace, and restored order!

“‘O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?’

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:55-57