Gen 3:23-24 | KingComments | STEP | The LORD God confirms what satan has said to Eve about being like God ( ; ). As said, the likeness only concerns the knowledge of good and evil, while at the same time the possibility of using that knowledge in a Divine manner is lacking. Man has been deceived by accepting the suggestion of satan. After God’s gracious provision of the garments of skin they must leave paradise. As far as man is concerned, that has been lost forever. A return to the tree of life is not possible. The access is closed. This is also a proof of God’s grace, because by doing this God prevents man from having to remain in this state of misery forever. The history of man shows that he is tireless in his attempts to open the way to paradise again. He does not want to bow under God’s verdict. But all efforts are in vain and will always be. The sword of the cherubs guards the way to the tree of life by God’s command. Man is sent out to cultivate the ground, because the ground is no longer clean and no longer produces only good fruit. Although God has made provision of living with Him, the consequences of sin are not all taken away. A complete recovery to the old situation cannot take place. Later we will see that God has plans that go far beyond a restoration of paradise: the church will be connected with the Lord Jesus forever and will be with Him in the Father’s house forever. Yet God’s plans for the earth will also be fulfilled once. But first man must be tested in every possible way to see if anything good can be expected from him. The outcome of this we will see in the rest of the book of Genesis and the books that follow.

‏ Genesis 3:23-24

Driven out of the Garden of Eden

The LORD God confirms what satan has said to Eve about being like God (Gen 3:22; Gen 3:5). As said, the likeness only concerns the knowledge of good and evil, while at the same time the possibility of using that knowledge in a Divine manner is lacking. Man has been deceived by accepting the suggestion of satan.

After God’s gracious provision of the garments of skin they must leave paradise. As far as man is concerned, that has been lost forever. A return to the tree of life is not possible. The access is closed. This is also a proof of God’s grace, because by doing this God prevents man from having to remain in this state of misery forever.

The history of man shows that he is tireless in his attempts to open the way to paradise again. He does not want to bow under God’s verdict. But all efforts are in vain and will always be. The sword of the cherubs guards the way to the tree of life by God’s command.

Man is sent out to cultivate the ground, because the ground is no longer clean and no longer produces only good fruit. Although God has made provision of living with Him, the consequences of sin are not all taken away. A complete recovery to the old situation cannot take place. Later we will see that God has plans that go far beyond a restoration of paradise: the church will be connected with the Lord Jesus forever and will be with Him in the Father’s house forever.

Yet God’s plans for the earth will also be fulfilled once. But first man must be tested in every possible way to see if anything good can be expected from him. The outcome of this we will see in the rest of the book of Genesis and the books that follow.