Day 750: Are you covered? - Genesis 3 vs 20 -24

20-21 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

22-24 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 for ever - ” 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 3:20-24 English Standard Version

I can understand why some people treat these verses in Genesis as symbolism, but for me the mention of a geographical location – east of the garden of Eden – means it should be taken as a real event. We won't find Eden on smart phone maps, but that doesn't mean it was not a real place. Having said that, I agree that there are also pictures in the events described here. What are we not specifically told, but perhaps should see implied in verses 20-21?

The garments of skin God provided for Adam, and the woman he named Eve, most likely came from an animal. An animal's blood had been shed and it's life taken to provide a covering for their sin, and the guilt that followed. This certainly is a picture that develops as the Bible narrative unfolds. We will see it in the next chapter again. In the four books after Genesis, also written by Moses, clear instructions were given regarding such sacrifices. But it was only a temporary provision because the Bible goes on to say that the sacrifices that were offered in the temple of old were a reminder of guiltiness, “for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:3)

What is the picture that emerges from vs 22-24?

Once again, we don't know the details. It seems there was a tree in the garden of Eden that represented eternal life. In the vision the apostle John saw of the future glory for God's people he says: “The angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. Also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2)

The point that Moses makes in Genesis is that man's sin was a huge obstacle to eternal life and fellowship with God. One implication of this truth is that a person who really loves their sins could never be happy in heaven, even if somehow they managed to sneak in. The holiness of God and the perfection of His dwelling place would be awful to them. In the case of Adam and Eve, they were no longer fit even for Eden, let alone heaven. So they were driven out from the place where they’d experienced fellowship with God.

Which brings us to the cherubim. They are heavenly beings that appear to be closely associated with God's glory. Many years later Moses was told to make two cherubim of gold with spread out wings overshadowing what was called 'the mercy seat'. The prophet Ezekiel saw visions of Cherubim accompanying God when He removed His glory from Jerusalem's temple. So the picture presented is that God's presence cannot be entered while we are in our sins. That's why in speaking of the future place of God's dwelling with mankind John said: “No longer will there be anything accursed.”

The good news is that he adds: “But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:3-4) Those whose sins have been covered by the sacrifice that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, made, need not fear the cherubim and the flaming sword. They are covered not by a garment of skin, but by Christ’s perfect righteousness.