A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

THE GARDEN OF GOD
1 The river of God flowing (Gen. 2:10-14; Rev. 22:12)
2 The presence of the tree of life (Gen. 3:24; Rev. 22:2)
3 Absence of sin and curse (Rom. 5:12; Rev. 22:3)
4 Fellowship with God (Gen. 3:8; Rev. 22:4)
5 All things were new (Gen. 1:1; Rev. 21:5)
6 Presence of the glory of God (Gen. 3:8, Rev. 21:22)
7 No temple or need for a temple (Gen. 3:8, Rev. 21:22)
8 Open unguarded gate (Gen. 3:24; Rev. 21:25)
In his original state Adam was far more than today’s average mortal man. That God gave him the
responsibility of naming the animals demonstrates something of his great intellectual ability. The same could
be said of his understanding of biology and agriculture as evidenced in his care of the Garden. Further, Adam’s
moral state differed from contemporary man in that he was in a state of innocence or conditional holiness. He
had not yet experienced the difference between right and wrong and though he was created with a will of his
own, that will was not naturally inclined to rebel against God.
In an area described as “eastward of Eden,” God had planted a garden which was ideally suited for
Adam (Gen. 2:8). Further, recognizing Adam’s need for companionship, God made the first woman. Jesus
described Adam and Eve as an ideal standard for all marriage (cf. vv. 23-24; Matt. 19:4-6). Within the Garden
God provided everything that couples would ever need or could ever want. Both Jewish and Christian
expositors have often called the Garden “paradise,” applying one of the titles of heaven to it.
Adam was given something else which God thought necessary for man to find complete fulfillmentresponsibility.
The first major covenant which God made with man was made with Adam in the Garden (Gen.
1:28-30; 2:16-17). This Edenic Covenant required five things from Adam. The first was the responsibility to
reproduce, to “be fruitful and multiply” (1:28). This was followed by the command to “subdue” the earth. A
third responsibility for Adam was to maintain dominion or sovereignty over the animal kingdom (v. 8). He
was also to care for the Garden and to eat of its vegetation; i.e., herbs, fruits, vegetables (v. 30; 2:16). Finally,
this covenant prohibited Adam from eating the fruit of a particular tree identified as the tree of knowledge of
good and evil (v. 17). Adam was warned that eating of that tree could only result in death.
THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM (Gen. 3:1-19)
Adam certainly was the man who had everything he needed or could ever want. Yet the tragedy of
Adam’s life is that he is remembered chiefly for the one day in his life when he lost it all. According to
Scripture, Adam lived some 930 years (Gen. 5:5). Yet one day in his life was so significant that the world has
never been the same since.
No one is certain just how long that first couple enjoyed the benefits of their Garden paradise.
Estimates of various commentators range from a few hours to a few years. Still, the day came when Adam
violated the terms of his covenant and sin became a part of human experience.
Though both Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that day, the responsibility for that sin is always
placed on Adam in Scripture. The historical record of that first sin of the race records a conversation only
between the woman and a serpent, but it is implied that Adam was also present though silent (cf. 3:6). Adam
had been given the particular command not to eat the fruit (2:17). Eve was deceived and tricked into eating the
fruit but Adam sinned with his eyes open; he knew that to eat the fruit was to transgress the law of God (1 Tim.
2:14). There is never any biblical justification for Adam’s actions that day.