Advent Journey: December 6th

© Michael Livesay-Wright

Questions and Reflections

QUESTION: Do you ever blame others when you do something wrong? Why do we do this?

We all do this. Just like Adam and Eve we blame others for our bad decision. The blame may be true. Maybe your brother did push you first or your boss was mean to you or, as with Adam and Eve, your wife encouraged you to disobey God or a snake actually spoke to you and tempted you to sin. Whatever the cause, it is important for us all to remember that we are responsible for our own obedience. But, when we do choose to sin, the shame we feel is uncomfortable. It lightens the shame load to shift it to someone else. "I wouldn't have done that if she hadn't said that" or "He started it!" But these excuses are distractions that keep us from being entirely honest with God and inhibit repentance. Sin is sad and hard, but it is the reality. The most important part is what comes next -- Do you blame and hide from God or do you repent and seek God? 

QUESTION: Adam and Eve's choice grieved God's heart, but did it surprise Him?

What follows their sinful choice is first shame, "Then the eyes of both were opened and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves" (Genesis 3:7). Then immediately after that, God comes to spend time with them. They are His favorite creations and He comes and hangs out and spend time with them as He always does. "And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8) The God of the universe is walking around in the garden He made, coming to hang out with his favorite people and instead of running to Him and telling Him about their day (as I assume they always did), Scripture says the man and woman both were afraid of God and hid from him. Then God calls for his people, "Where are you?" he asks. Remember that God knows everything and He knows already what they have done, but He still wants relationship with them. Nothing you could do will ever stop that. No sin will ever keep God from calling out for you. God isn't surprised by the choice Adam and Eve have made. He's still grieved by it because shame and fear and this hiding they are doing is not the kind of life He wants for His children. He wants them to have joy and hope and perfect relationship with Him! So, yes, He is sad, but He is never surprised or caught off guard. 

QUESTION: Why did Adam and Eve have to leave the garden?

There are perhaps many theological reasons why this had to happen. To me, the garden is a symbolic representation of God's perfect bounty and perfect relationships with Him. And when humans choose to sin that causes a separation from God. You see, God is perfect. He is holy and without sin. And His perfect presence cannot simply tolerate sin. They are incompatible. As we just saw in the last question, this doesn't mean that God isn't constantly pursuing His people and working towards their reconciliation with Him. But sin causes an immediate divide that must be mended by perfect reconciliation. So the physical departure from the garden is representational of that spiritual separation. Things will now be harder for humans. Much harder. There will be sadness, and loneliness, exhaustion, grumpiness, and fear. But this isn't the end of the story! Keep reading! God is already working to bring hope to his people. He is working on a huge plan that will bring His people back into perfect relationship with Him in the most unexpected way! GOD IS COMING!