Garden Conversations
The conversations that happened in the garden of Eden set the scene for all human history. If you are willing to spend time searching for answers to the big picture, in Genesis Chapters 1-4, you will find many hidden treasures. You will find answers to all the big questions about the design and purpose of the whole of God’s creation. And you can begin to see that God has been “with us,” humans, in a very special relational way since the beginning. And it will point us to the eternal “face to face” relationship that will be consummated in the Kingdom of God. Genesis 1 and 2 gives us the creation account followed, by some explanation about the creation. It goes from a day-by-day description of all creation, to zeroing in on the creation of man. It singles out man (humans) as the only created thing that is made in God’s image. It explains that even though the creation of mankind is “very good”, it is not good for man to be alone. And God has made man in two different forms, male and female, and they are to multiply and fill the earth. God explains some similarities, and differences, between the man and woman, and tells us that God put them into the “Garden” that God had planted in Eden. God gave them jobs, and a warning about not eating from one specific tree. That warning was an introduction to the existence of good and evil. God also explained that Adam and Eve were both naked and were “not ashamed.” And then Chapter 3 verse 8 we hear about God walking in the garden in the “cool of the day” as if it might be a time and place where God had met with Adam and Eve regularly. This could be said to be the first picture of “God with us”. The conversations described in the two previous chapters had all been about God talking either to the Son and the Spirit, or God talking to Adam. Then in Ch 3 verse 8 it wouldn’t take much imagination enjoy a picture in our mind of God walking in the cool of the day, in a Garden paradise, conversing with the crown jewels of His creation, Adam and Eve. The Garden was a beautiful place full of trees bearing fruit, that was “pleasing to the eyes, and good for food.” And being naked without shame would describe innocence, and no physical or emotional need to cover up. This Garden was a perfect paradise where Adam and Eve should want for nothing beyond fellowship with their creator. But at the beginning of chapter 3 we are introduced to a new visitor to the Garden, the serpent. The conversation shifts immediately to the serpent speaking to Eve. This conversation changes everything. By the end of this chapter there is no more direct “God with us” relationship. The intimate fellowship between God and His special creation had been lost. Or so it seems. This new visitor to in garden starts up a conversation that leads to his specialty, death and destruction. He is described as being clever. He tempts Eve to doubt God’s goodness. He lies about God’s warning. And he tempts Eve to consider what it might be like if she had “knowledge of good and evil,” so that she could “be like God”. And Eve not only eats the forbidden fruit but also talks Adam into doing the same. Then God enters the conversation. He speaks first to Adam, and then to Eve. Both of them try to point the blame away from themselves. Then God speaks to the serpent. I believe that this conversation between God and Satan, with Adam and Eve listening in, is one of the most powerful sermons ever preached. I also believe that the meaning of this conversation is misread and misunderstood most of the time. Here is my summary of that scene from the book: God spoke words of judgement first to the serpent... ------------------------ “Because you have done this, I will put enmity between you and the woman…” Genesis 3:15 ESV
As God paused in his judgement against the serpent, all of the angels shuddered with fear.
Then, the angel Gabriel, with a huge smile on his face, said “Wow look what God has done!” Gabriel was seeing connections that the other angels hadn’t figured out yet.
You see, “God had stepped in and turned the tables. ”It looked like Eve had joined the fallen angels in her own rebellion against God. But now God had changed everything! By God’s grace, Eve is back on God’s side. Satan had just lost the first battle. The battle for Eve’s heart. He thought he had won Eve over to his side. But now, Satan and Eve are enemies. ”The angels were witnessing God’s first act in restraining evil
Then God continued, speaking with power saying:“I will put enmity between your offspring and her offspring…”Genesis 3:15 ESV
With these words Gabriel was so excited he couldn’t help himself. He interrupted the silence again. ‘Did you hear that? God is showing mercy and grace to Eve!” “Even after her disobedience and rebellion, God still wants her to bring offspring into the world.”
Then Gabriel asked: “And what is this offspring of the serpent? Could it be that there will be two different kinds of humans? Will it be like the two different kinds of angels? Will there be some humans who love God, and some who don’t?”
God continued:“He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15
There was a long silence in heaven.
Then Gabriel drew a deep breath and said, “Now I think I know why the Son was called ‘the Lamb who was slain!’ It looks like the Son will be involved in this battle.”
The holy angels roared with joy, and praised God.
The fallen angels cringed and growled through their teeth.
So, you see, Gabriel didn’t fully understand yet, but he was picking up clues to a great mystery. We now know “the serpent bruised HIS (the Son’s) heel, and He (the Son) bruised the serpent’s head. After receiving a wound to His heel, and death followed by resurrection, the slain Lamb defeated the Enemy with a head wound. Jesus’ resurrection guaranteed resurrection for all of the saints, thereby totally removing all of the serpent’s power against the saints. God would later reveal more of the mystery, when the Son is born in the lineage of the woman’s offspring. There was a new war beginning. The winner of this war had already been declared. The winner is the Son!!! You see, when God declares something, like He did on the days of creation, it always happens just that way.
Did you notice this was the first gospel sermon ever! And it was preached in the Garden by God Almighty himself!
God must have given Eve a new heart, one that trusted God and was now turned against the serpent. God had also announced that the serpent, and his followers, would be the ones to bruise the Son’s heel. And the Son would be the one to conquer the serpent with a blow to the serpent’s head.
This gospel story given in the garden would be the gospel that would be passed on to all of the offspring of the woman, and believed by all old testament saints. (from Kingdom Conversations Chap. 2) The Epic Adventure Begins Note: Charles H. Spurgeon has put together a little book, called Christ's Glorious Achievements, that explains the gospel that is preached by God in the Garden Conversations. In chapter 2 of Spurgeon’s book, he explains the conversation better than I could ever hope to explain them. Get the eBook book here.