DAY 70 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE FALL & THE FLOOD
After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3: 24
Reading: Genesis 3; Revelation 2: 7
As we saw in our study yesterday, and we see as we read through Genesis 3, there were many implications of Adam and Eve’s sin – suffering, wandering, confusion, sorrow, hiding, guilt, shame and the blame game.
However, there was one consequence that had far greater impact than any of the others. Adam and Eve lost access to the Tree of Life. God was so concerned that these corrupted creatures would live forever, that He turned them out of the Garden and placed a fierce angel at the entrance to protect the Tree of Life. Whereas before the Fall, God was quite happy for Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Life, after the Fall He was not. He did not want them to live forever in their fallen, sinful state.
Have you ever wondered about the Tree of Life? What is it? Is it a real tree, or just a concept or a symbol? Are there other clues in the Bible that tell us more?
Interestingly, we find clues in the structure and furniture of the Tabernacle and the Temple. The menorah and the other adornments specified by God are symbols of the Tree of Life. They symbolise the presence of God. The doors and walls of Solomon's temple contains images of trees and cherubim that strongly recall the Garden of Eden and God's sacred presence with humanity (1 Kings 6: 23-35). And in Ezekiel 41: 17, 18 you will see that carvings of palm trees and cherumbim will even be present in the future temple.
The most direct reference, apart from in the early chapters of Genesis, is found in Revelation 2: 7.
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”
Access to the tree had been cut off in Genesis 3: 24 but in Revelation, its mention again represents the restoration of the life-giving presence of God. We will look into this in greater detail in tomorrow's devotional study.
Prayer
Oh Lord, I long to look more deeply into these things. Please reveal to me.
For the family
Explain
Explain the devotional in an age-appropriate way.
Engage