Dear waiting:
I saved my response to you for last because the points you bring out are the most difficult for me, personally, to deal with. I have no answers, to coin a phrase: “Hell, I don’t even know all the questions!” I only have thoughts and ideas on the these things based on personal (and thus very limited) experience with life and a modest acquaintance with the Bible. I can’t argue my point because I may not even have one. I can, however, give some reasoning on why I have arrived at those conclusions at this particular time.
Ge 3:22 is one of those ‘profound’ scriptures I mentioned earlier. It really is fascinating. You bring out some good points,
Just sneak to the tree, eat - and presto! you can live forever (sounds like a book, huh?) again, while still being a disobedient sinner.
Maybe the ‘tree of life’ was not like the ‘tree of knowledge of good and bad’ in that one bite is all it took. Perhaps the ‘tree of life’ was something that had to be partaken of on a regular basis, a constant reminder that man does not possess inherent immortality, that his very existence has been, is, and always will be, dependent upon God. Maybe it was very much like the manna in the wilderness, good for one day only (with the exception of the Sabbath).
Even though God said that A&E would die if they ate from the tree of knowledge, if they could eat from that tree and then run to the tree of life - they could, as sinners, live forever? Wouldn't that thwart God's purpose?
His taking very definite measures (cherubs, flaming swords) showed that while that provision for eternal life (the tree) remained, they were now prevented from partaking of it. Cruel punishment? Maybe not. Perhaps it remained as a hope that access to it would one day be granted again. God did not uproot the tree, he just barred access to it. All of this, even if literal, is also very symbolic I’m sure, part of a puzzle of unknowable form and of which we have not all the pieces.
And btw, why wouldn't Satan tell Eve of this trick to maneuver around God's law?
Of course if the situation I mentioned above was the case, it would have done him no good to tell them of that tree inasmuch it would only preserve them alive UNTIL God barred access to it. There is also this possibility. Perhaps for some reason connected with God’s purpose for the garden, God could not remove the tree of life. A stipulation from the beginning omitted from the Genesis account. (Hey, I know this is flimsy!) That would explain why the cherubs guarded the tree instead of God removing it entirely. Satan could very well have reasoned that inasmuch as removal of the ‘tree of life’ was not possible, that the human pair could eat of the ‘other’ tree and still have access to the ‘tree of life’ and therefore God would HAVE to allow them to keep living. Maybe Satan really believed that the couple would not die. Then again maybe Satan was just as mean as he is portrayed to be and simply lied to Eve and took some form of perverse pleasure at her and her husband’s banishment and subsequent demise. (I’m shaking my head) I don’t know.
THE TALE OF FIVE OFFICERS
I’d never read that before. Thank you for providing the link.
If you are suggesting that this world, and all it's problems, were set up by God, so we could be tested and proved through our sufferings, then which of these officers would picture God?
If God is the creator and is almighty then EVERYTHING in this world exists either by his express will or by his permission. In either case, he can be said to be responsible for it. I see no way around that. I believe that God created this material universe at a great cost to Himself, a cost perhaps much greater than we shall ever truly appreciate. In order for free will (freedom) to exist it would have to do so without direct interference from him. That means allowing you the choice. The story of the policemen does not accurately illustrate the situation with God. A small child is in no position to pass judgments on the actions and decisions of its parents. We are in a comparable position with God. When I was a child there were many times that I was disciplined and in each and every instance I thought my parents unfair and accused them (to myself) of not understanding. I was wrong. The pain they inflicted upon me was nothing compared to what they were saving me from. Who knows just how deep evil goes? Who knows just how vast the dark side is? Who is there among us that knows these things. As much horror and pain as has been inflicted on humankind who is there among us that can say with certainty that there are not greater horrors and pain than that which we have suffered? Who knows what lies ahead for humankind? Who can say authoritatively that the sufferings that are being endured today are not what will protect us from far greater and longer lasting sufferings later on?
I don’t like the pain and the sorrow and the anguish. I have seen a lot of the people I loved die and it hurts terribly. I will see even more and it will hurt even more. One day I may see my own end approach and I will feel that cold dread. I don’t like it. But if I’ve learned anything at all it’s that there is a lot I will never know, a lot I can never know. Why do I believe that God will take care of us in the end since there is no way of knowing for sure? I don’t care for the alternative.
-Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it-