Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 3:22-23 (New English Translation)

22 And the Lord God said, “Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God expelled him from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken.

God expelled Adam and Eve from Eden because of their sin. God expelled them to prevent something—eternal life.

Note verse 22, especially the last phrase. God could not allow a sinful creature to live forever. Perhaps that would be too painful for God to be eternal next to sin. That is my silly speculation, but it shows the mind of tiny man next to God.

Eternal life in sin, who would want that? Arrogant man would jump at the chance, but one day would discover the folly of it. God grant me contentment in the state of temporary sin.