Tree of Life

After the fall of man, God drove out Adam and Eve from the garden, so they could no longer eat of the tree of life and live forever. "Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life." Gen. 3:22-24

That is the end of Genesis Chapter 3, and the beginning of life as we know it. In Gen. 4, we see the start of Adam and Eve's family and the effect it had on mankind. Adam and Eve had two sons-Cain and Abel. Cain was a tiller of the ground, and Abel was a keeper of the sheep. Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock as an offering to the Lord. God was not pleased with Cain's offering, but respected Abel's. Cain resented his brother, and became angry. Why was God not pleased with Cain's offering? Let's take a look at it closer. "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell." Gen. 4:3-5

These verses puzzled me for years. I did not know why God did not respect Cain's offering. It wasn't clear to me in these verses until my Pastor made it clear to me one Sunday. The key words to look at are in verse 3. The words are "And in the process of time". God requires the first, and best as an offering. Cain was selfish. He made sure he was taken care of, and all his bills were paid. He kept the first and best for his self, and in the process of time brought his offering to God. He gave God the leftovers. Abel on the other hand brought the firstborn of his flock. He brought the first and best to God.

"So the Lord said to Cain,"Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." We know the rest of the story. Cain did not rule over his sin, and he deceived his brother and killed Abel. This is the first murder recorded in the Bible. "The the Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."

Poor Adam and Eve. They basically lost their two sons in one fell swoop. Have you ever thought about that? Luckily, God is in the redeeming business. "And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord." Gen. 4:25-26.  God gave them another son, Seth. Seth was a redemptive son for the loss of Abel. I love how Genesis 4 concludes, "Then men began to call on the name of the Lord." Seth is the first in the bloodline that will trace to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. God shows out by giving us the first sign of redemptive work through Eve. Eve failed badly, but God's mercy plants the seed of the promised Messiah through Eve. No matter how deep our failure, God's mercy goes deeper.

God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden, and they could no longer eat of the tree of life. Jesus Christ is like the tree of life. "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John. 14:6 Adam and Eve had eternal life when they ate from the tree of life. Jesus Christ promises us eternal life through Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

God begins His redemption through the bloodline of Seth, and makes a way for man to be saved and have eternal life. I thank my God for His firstborn acceptable sacrifice-Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus Christ hung on a tree. Look toward Jesus Christ on the cross. The cross is your tree of life today.