The Way
The Lost Garden
A road closed, and a first promise
Story
God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of a man shaped from the dust. The man opened his eyes. Soon Eve stood beside him, and the two of them walked through a garden heavy with fruit, lovely to look at and good to eat. But of one tree standing in the middle of the garden, God said this. The fruit of the tree that gives knowledge of good and evil, that alone you must not eat. On the day you eat it, you will surely die.
Then the serpent came close to Eve and whispered. Did God really say you may not eat from any tree in the garden? Eve answered that only the tree in the middle was forbidden. Then the serpent said, you will not die. Eat it, and your eyes will be opened, and you will know good and evil, like God. Eve looked up at the tree. It was beautiful, and it seemed it could make her wise. She picked the fruit and ate, and she handed some to Adam, who was beside her. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. When they heard the footsteps of God in the evening breeze, they hid among the trees.
Adam, where are you? Trembling with fear, the two came out, and each laid the blame on the other, and on the serpent. That day sin came in between people and God, and death followed close behind. God declared to the serpent, the woman's offspring will crush your head. Then he made garments of skin and clothed them, and sent them out of the garden. East of the garden, cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way guarded the road to the tree of life. The story of opening that closed road again now begins with a girl in Nazareth.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
You may eat freely from any tree in the garden. But do not eat from the tree that gives knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it you will certainly die.
Where are you?
I will set hostility between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite his heel.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Gen 2:8–3:24
Background
Genesis 3:15 has long been called the “first gospel”. The New Testament finds in Jesus Christ the answer to who the woman’s offspring is that crushes the serpent’s head. Paul called him “the last Adam”.
Pause and Reflect
When I have done wrong, do I come to God, or try to hide?