I have tried to suggest in the first article that it would have been necessary for YHWH to create an earth complete with the appearance of age. If He did, we suggest that this illusion would be complete in all details. Whether or not evolution forms part of this apparent past remains for me an open question.
11. The Garden
There is a close association between the Garden of Eden and our hope. Paul was granted visions of the future, being caught up to Paradise (or garden; 2 Cor.12:14). In many ways the end of the Kingdom should see a restoration of the earth to its pre-curse state – i.e. like the Garden of Eden.
Bearing in mind the possible great alterations to the river systems and mountain chains that would have been involved at the Flood, the location of the Garden of Eden is very uncertain (perhaps the site is now at the bottom of the Mediterranean). All trace of the Garden would have been obliterated at the Flood, although the record implies its continued existence after the fall (Gen 3:24).”Till It And Keep It”
Thus man was given the pleasant task of “keeping” the Garden – quite different from the “toil” of ch.3:19. This was God’s provision for man’s happiness; – does this imply that man’s lifestyle in the age to come will be similar (the meek shall inherit the earth)? YHWH’s instructions in the Law to the Israelites were closely bound up with the “keeping” of the land which He gave to them, and most of the characters who rose to serve YHWH best came from a background which gave them much contact with the works of nature. How much are we missing in our plastic and concrete urban jungle of YHWH’s revelation of Himself in created things?
12. Second Account
From ch.2:4 onwards we have a second account of creation, this time written from the standpoint of man and its relationship with YHWH. In this account, chronology is not important, and the word “day” means “time” or “days” (vv 4 & 17). God’s memorial Name is used in emphasis of the fact that this is the start of the personal relationship between God and man.
13. Adam’s RIB
Did YHWH choose to create Eve in this unique way to emphasise to the reader the unity of Adam and Eve, and the distinction in YHWH’s sight between them and the rest of creation?
14. The Lie
All good lies are almost true. The serpent said “You will not die”. In a sense this is a true statement, as the actual death of Adam and Eve was delayed for many years. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil” was also true, but the serpent did not enumerate the consequences of that knowledge.
15. The Fall
Why did God create a perfect world and then deliberately introduce evil into it? Why did He let things go wrong? Surely we are told that God tempts no-one with evil (Jas 1:13). To answer these questions we need to look at the reasons for creation. The subject is deep so we shall be brief.
It seems that YHWH desires worship from man. Man was created to worship Him. Worship is not essentially an act, it is a relationship the relationship between a moral creature and a morally perfect Creator. Adam and Eve were created amoral. With no idea of evil they could not appreciate the goodness of YHWH, and therefore they could not worship Him.
The choice had to be put before them between good and evil. Whether they passed or failed the test they would know evil and good, so becoming moral creatures, able to worship YHWH freely. Whichever way they chose, YHWH’s purpose would be fulfilled. YHWH has so far made man a moral creature and in Jesus He is making man morally good.
16. Nakedness
One of the immediate consequences of Adam’s sin was the shame he felt at his exposed sexual parts. Why? Adam and Eve had been naked before and not ashamed.
Adam and Eve were surrounded by animals and plants. We are told that they reproduced and grew old – so the rest of creation was already involved in the cycle of death and reproduction, all closely linked and in balance.
Adam knew that he and Eve were different and special, not dying. They saw the reproductive acts of animals, and knew that this was necessary to make up for the death of those animals. After the fall, Adam knew what the sentence of God would be – death. The shame associated with death was carried so to speak as a badge in the form of reproductive organs – a constant reminder to him that he, like the animals, would die.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay