2015-1st Qt Beyond The Veil -iph

• LESSON 12 “And I Saw No Temple in the City” * We’ve covered a lot of ground and several millennia in this study. Take a moment, from the outset of this final lesson, to reflect on where we’ve been. • Lesson 1 - Awe-Inspiring Encounters with God The LORD God Almighty Before the Age of the Veil • Lesson 2 - Perfect Fellowship Interrupted • Lesson 3 - Altars of the Patriarchs The LORD God Almighty Who Dwelt Beyond the Veil • Lesson 4 - “Let Them Make Me a Sanctuary” • Lesson 5 - The Exterior of the Tabernacle • Lesson 6 - The Interior of the Tabernacle • Lesson 7 - The Priesthood of the Tabernacle • Lesson 8 - The Sacrifices of the Tabernacle • Lesson 9 - The Temple: The House for the Name of the LORD The LORD God Almighty Who Tore the Veil • Lesson 10 - “It is Finished”The LORD God Almighty Who is Transforming the Unveiled• Lesson 11 - We All, With Unveiled Face, Are Being Transformed Our final lesson, which focuses on the conclusion of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, brings us full circle in several beautiful and eternally significant ways. • Revelation 20:7-10 – Satan, “the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, the deceiver of the whole world” (12:9; 20:2) is thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur to be tormented day and night forever and ever. • Revelation 20:11-15 – the dead, great and small, have the awe-inspiring encounter of judgment before the great white throne of God. Books are opened, the book of life is opened, and the dead are judged by what is written in the books according to what they have done. If anyone’s name is not found in the book of life, they are thrown into the lake of fire, the second death. We’ve covered a lot of ground and several millennia in this study. Take a moment, from the outset of this final lesson, to reflect on where we’ve been. • Lesson 1 - Awe-Inspiring Encounters with God The LORD God Almighty Before the Age of the Veil • Lesson 2 - Perfect Fellowship Interrupted • Lesson 3 - Altars of the Patriarchs The LORD God Almighty Who Dwelt Beyond the Veil • Lesson 4 - “Let Them Make Me a Sanctuary” • Lesson 5 - The Exterior of the Tabernacle • Lesson 6 - The Interior of the Tabernacle• Lesson 7 - The Priesthood of the Tabernacle• Lesson 8 - The Sacrifices of the Tabernacle• Lesson 9 - The Temple: The House for the Name of the LORDThe LORD God Almighty Who Tore the Veil• Lesson 10 - “It is Finished”The LORD God Almighty Who is Transforming the Unveiled • Lesson 11 - We All, With Unveiled Face, Are Being Transformed Our final lesson, which focuses on the conclusion of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, brings us full circle in several beautiful and eternally significant ways. • Revelation 20:7-10 – Satan, “the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, the deceiver of the whole world” (12:9; 20:2) is thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur to be tormented day and night forever and ever. • Revelation 20:11-15 – the dead, great and small, have the awe-inspiring encounter of judgment before the great white throne of God. Books are opened, the book of life is opened, and the dead are judged by what is written in the books according to what they have done. If anyone’s name is not found in the book of life, they are thrown into the lake of fire, the second death. We’ve covered a lot of ground and several millennia in this study. Take a moment, from the outset of this final lesson, to reflect on where we’ve been. • Lesson 1 - Awe-Inspiring Encounters with God The LORD God Almighty Before the Age of the Veil • Lesson 2 - Perfect Fellowship Interrupted • Lesson 3 - Altars of the Patriarchs The LORD God Almighty Who Dwelt Beyond the Veil • Lesson 4 - “Let Them Make Me a Sanctuary” • Lesson 5 - The Exterior of the Tabernacle • Lesson 6 - The Interior of the Tabernacle • Lesson 7 - The Priesthood of the Tabernacle • Lesson 8 - The Sacrifices of the Tabernacle •

•LESSON 11(March15)• We All, With Unveiled Face, Are Being Transformed Christians have been granted extraordinary access to the throne of divine grace.Jesus, the Lamb provided by God,has become our high priest. Entering once for all into the holy places by means of his own blood, Jesus has secured an eternal redemption and inaugurated a new and better covenant“enacted on better promises” (Heb 8:6). But what makes this new covenant better?It’s important that disciples of Jesus know the answer to that question. Consider these better promises and blessings from 2 Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 • We Are the Aroma of Christ to God Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.  The LORD repeatedly described the sacrificial offerings of the Israelites as “a pleasing aroma” (Exo29:18, 25, 41; Lev 1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5, 16; 4:31; 6:15, 21; 8:21, 28; 17:6;23:13, 18; Num 15:3, 7, 10, 13-14, 24; 18:17; 28:2, 6, 8, 13, 24, 27; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36). What then does Paul mean when he describes Christians as “the aroma of Christ to God”?  This “aroma” spreads to saint and s inner alike—“to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” What does this mean?  In what way is this new “aroma” better than the Old Testament offerings? 2 Corinthians 3 • We All, With Unveiled Face, Are Being Transformed Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, 2 written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed,in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

• LESSON 10 (March 8) • “It is Finished” The first nine lessons of this study (and the thousands of years’ worth of historical scope we’ve worked to wrap our minds around) have been gradually building and persistently pointing to an incredible moment.What did the LORD God’s dark promise to the serpent in Genesis 3:15 mean? How would it be fulfilled?“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”What did John the Baptist intend to convey in John 1:29 when he pointed at Jesus of Nazareth and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”? Why would the author of Hebrews write what he did in Hebrews 10:1-4? So much blood had been shed! But…Since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.And Paul? On what basis could he draw the worldview-altering connections contained in Galatians 3:19-29? Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 2Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

• LESSON 8 (February 22) • The Sacrifices of the Tabernacle The tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrificial system were built on a precious promise of the God who had delivered the descendants of Abraham from their bondage in Egypt.“There I will meet with the people of Israel, and [the tabernacle] shall be sanctified by my glory. I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.” (Exo 29:43-46)The people came to see just how literally the LORD intended to dwell among them in Numbers 2-3. “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side” (Num 2:2).The tabernacle was the centerpiece of life with the LORD. What enabled an unholy people to dwell in such close proximity to a perfectly holy God? Sacrifices. Open a Bible and carefully read the LORD’s instructions in Leviticus 17:1-14. Why do you think the LORD was so explicit in commanding that sacrifices be brought to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and not be offered “in the open field”? What should we make of Leviticus 17:7? “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Lev 17:11). What does this tell us about the nature, significance, and necessity of Old Testament sacrifices? Why would the author of Hebrews 9:22 go so far as to say “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins”? In Leviticus 1-7, the LORD outlines five sacrificial “offerings” (literally, something that is brought near) that could be presented on his altar for various reasons from among the people. Burnt offerings (Lev 1) – either a bull, small livestock (a sheep or a goat), or a bird; a very costly offering since it would be completely burned up with nothing left. Burnt offerings were made throughout the Old Testament on occasions of thanksgiving, praise, petition, the making of vows, and self-dedication.o Why do you think the LORD repeatedly emphasized that the animals offered were to be “without blemish”?o Why would the LORD want the offerer to “lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering” and be the one to kill it?o After creating such a beautiful, materially-valuable sanctuary, why would the LORD ever want the priests to “throw the blood against the sides of the altar”?

• LESSON 7 (February 15) • The Priesthood of the Tabernacle On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” (Exo 19:1-6) After delivering extensive instructions concerning the pattern of the tabernacle (Exo 25-27), the LORD began outlining to Moses the priesthood which would serve in and around his sanctuary. “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.” (Exo 28:1) Beyond this family, an entire tribe of Israel was set apart by God for the ministry of the tabernacle. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle. And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel. And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.” (Num 3:5-10)The tribe of Levi uniquely belonged to the LORD (Num 3:11-13). “For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the LORD” (Deut 18:5).“The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the LORD’s food offerings as their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.” (Deut 18:1-2)A tithing system was instituted by the LORD to provide for these priests and their families (Deut 18:3-8; 14:22-29).

Lesson 6 The Interior of the Tabernacle Beyond the bronze altar and basin in the outer courtyard was the tabernacle itself—45 feet long, 15 feet wide, 15 feet tall. It was a wooden skeletal structure that was divided into two sections—the Holy Place (15 feet wide, 30 feet long) and the Most Holy Place (a 15 foot cube). The “walls” were made of 48 upright frames of acacia wood, 20 each on the north and south sides, six on the west side, and two corner boards (Exo 26:15-25). Five wooden bars overlaid with gold passed through rings attached to each frame (Exo 26:26-30), providing stability to the entire structure. Ten curtains of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns with cherubim skillfully worked into them were suspended from the skeletal structure. Fifty clasps of gold coupled the curtains together, “so that the tabernacle may be a single whole” (Exo 26:1-6). A multi-layered “tent over the tabernacle” was made of tanned rams’ skins and goatskins (Exo 26:7-14), forming a weather-resistant shield over the valuable materials within.On the east end of the tabernacle was “a screen for the entrance of the tent.” It was made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. The screen was supported by five pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold and suspended from hooks of gold (Exo 26:36-37).The Table for Bread (Exo 25:23-30; 37:10-16; 40:22-23)Within the Holy Place, on the north side (Exo 26:35), was a table of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold. It was 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high with a 3-inch molding of gold around the rim. Twelve loaves of the “bread of the Presence” were set in two piles on this table every Sabbath day as a food offering to the LORD (Lev 24:5-9). There were plates and dishes for incense, flagons and bowls for drink offerings, all made of pure gold.Four rings of gold were attached to the table. Poles of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, were inserted through the rings so that the table could be carried.The Golden Lampstand (Exo 25:31-40; 37:17-24; 40:24-25)Opposite the table, on the south side (Exo 26:35), stood a seven-branched lampstand hammered out of one solid piece of pure gold. With cups, calyxes, and flowers on each branch, it was made to look like a blossoming almond tree. Its tongs and trays were of pure gold. “It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent (about 75 pounds) of pure gold” (25:39). Its purpose? “The lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it” (25:37).Part of the priests’ ministry was to keep the lamps burning consistently (Exo 27:20-21; Lev 24:1-4). Each lamp was trimmed every evening and morning (Exo 30:7-8).The Altar of Incense (Exo 30:1-10, 34-38; 37:25-29; 40:26-27)On the west side of the Holy Place was a 3-foot high, 1.5- foot long, 1.5-foot wide wooden altar overlaid with pure gold. It had horns and a molding of gold around it. Four golden rings on opposite sides served as holders for poles with which to carry the altar. As with the table, the poles were of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold.Fragrant incense was burnt on the altar every morning and evening. The high priest would also “make atonement on its horns once a year” with the blood of a sin offering of atonement (30:10). What would the veil represent to the people of God?What would the ark of the covenant represent to the people of God? Why would God describe the lid of the ark as “the mercy seat”? Cherubim aren’t mentioned in the Bible between Genesis 3:24 and Exodus 25. What should we make of their reappearance?

• LESSON 5 (February 1) • The Exterior of the Tabernacle Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” was the command of the LORD in Exodus 25:8. “Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it” (Exo 25:9). The last third of Exodus contains the meticulous details of this pattern and how the children of Israel put them into practice. We’ll begin with the exterior. The Outer Courtyard (Exo 27:9-19; 38:9-20; 40:33) Hangings of fine twined linen formed a type of fence around the outer courtyard. The curtains were suspended with silver hooks from 60 wooden pillars. The pillars were overlaid with bronze. Each had a cap overlaid with silver. In its entirety, the outer courtyard was: • 100 cubits long (150 feet) • 50 cubits wide (75 feet) • 5 cubits tall (7.5 feet) 2A 30-foot wide entrance was available on the east side of the outer courtyard (Exo 27:16). It was covered with a screen made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, embroidered with needlework.The Bronze Altar (Exo 27:1-8; 38:1-7; 40:6, 10, 29)The altar was made of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze. Its four corners had horns overlaid with bronze. It was a hollow square:• 5 cubits long (7.5 feet)• 5 cubits wide (7.5 feet)• 3 cubits tall (4.5 feet) Pots, shovels, basins, forks, and fire pans—all of bronze—were used in the service of the altar. A bronze grate with a bronze ring in each corner was set within the altar. Poles of acacia wood overlaid with bronze could be put through the rings for carrying the altar through the wilderness. The Bronze Basin (Exo 30:17-21; 38:8; 40:7, 30-32) A basin and its stand—both of bronze—stood between the bronze altar and the tabernacle. Mirrors of the women who ministered in the entrance of the tabernacle were used in its construction. The basin was filled with water for ceremonial washing. Every time the priests ministered they were to wash themselves with water, “so that they may not die.” POINTS TO PONDER:  All of this bronze must have gleamed beautifully as the Sun rose in the east each morning.  Between the people and God were an altar and a basin—a place of sacrifice and a place of cleansing. CLOSING THOUGHT: “…and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb 10:21-22).

• LESSON 4 (January 25) • “Let Them Make Me a Sanctuary” Exodus documents the deliverance of the descendants of Abraham from Egyptian bondage after four hundred years of affliction (Acts 7:6). In Exodus 14 the LORD makes a dry path available through the Red Sea. In Exodus 15 he makes bitter water sweet. In Exodus 16 he rains bread from heaven. In Exodus 17 he makes water flow from a rock. In Exodus 19 he descends in fire on Mount Sinai. In Exodus 20-23 he delivers the Ten Commandments, followed by a variety of laws outlining his expectations for the conduct of his chosen people. In Exodus 23 he promises a successful conquest of Canaan. In Exodus 24 he confirms his covenant with the nation of Israel. And in Exodus 25 he says something spectacular.The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.” (25:1-9) The LORD is more than capable of making a glorious sanctuary miraculously appear out of thin air. Why do you think he used a contribution “from every man whose heart moved him”? The tabernacle will be described in a variety of different ways throughout Exodus. What are each of these descriptions communicating?  “A sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (25:8) -  “The tent” (26:36) -  “The tent of meeting” (29:42) -  “The tabernacle of the testimony” (38:21) In one way or another, 50 chapters of the Bible touch on the blueprint, construction, or service of the tabernacle. Nothing was left to Moses’ imagination or the speculation of the people. The LORD revealed exactly what he wanted, down to the most minute of details. Why was it so important that the people make the tabernacle “exactly as I show you concerning the pattern” (Exo 25:9, 40; Num 8:4; Acts 7:44; Heb 8:5)? If there was one word to describe what the LORD intended for the tabernacle’s atmosphere, surely it would be “holy.” What does “holy” mean? How does Exodus 29:42-45 serve as a good summary of God’s expectation of holiness? Using Exodus 40:34-37, describe in your own words what happened once the tabernacle was constructed and erected.In Leviticus 26:11-12, the LORD said, “I will make my dwelling” (literally tabernacle in Hebrew) “among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” What should we make of Paul’s quoting that text in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18? POINTS TO PONDER:  Hebrews 8:1-6 describes the tabernacle and its system of priests as “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” while ultimately drawing attention to Jesus as “a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.”  When John saw “a new heaven and a new earth” in Revelation 21:1-4, he heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place” (or tabernacle) “of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ”CLOSING THOUGHT: For almost 500 years the tabernacle served as a place for God to dwell in the midst of his people and his people to render service and offer sacrifice to him.

• LESSON 3 (January 18) • Altars of the Patriarchs The Old Testament word that we translate into English as altar is formed from the Hebrew verb root for “slaughter.” Altar literally means “slaughter place.” In the ancient world, altars were raised structures built from natural objects or man-made materials. Their purpose? These were the places that sacrifices could be presented to a deity. Genesis documents the fact that men of faith constructed altars for worshiping God before the days of the Tabernacle. Our taking the time to study their actions and the subsequent reactions of God will enhance our overall understanding of what was involved when the LORD eventually said, “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (Exo 25:8). Noah • Genesis 8:13-22 • What does this tell us about Noah? • What does this tell us about God? • What do we learn about altars from this passage? Abraham • Genesis 12:1-8; 13:2-4, 18; 22:1-18 • What does this tell us about Abraham? • What does this tell us about God? • What do we learn about altars from this passage? Isaac • Genesis 26:23-25 • What does this tell us about Isaac? • What does this tell us about God? • What do we learn about altars from this passage? Jacob • Genesis 33:1-20; 35:1-7 • What does this tell us about Jacob? • What does this tell us about God? • What do we learn about altars from this passage? Moses • Exodus 17:8-16 • What does this tell us about Moses? • What does this tell us about God? • What do we learn about altars from this passage? POINTS TO PONDER: In connection with altars God said, “I will come to you and bless you” (Exo 20:22-24). He also added, “If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it” (Exo 20:25-26). CLOSING THOUGHT: In describing the “better” blessings that Christians now enjoy, Hebrews 13:10 tells us, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.”

• LESSON 2 (January 11) • Perfect Fellowship Interrupted * Think for a few moments about the nature and purpose of veils. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Isn’t that the truth in many aspects of life? Only once we’ve lost someone or something do we come to truly appreciate what was once “perfect” and uninterrupted. Pre-Genesis 3 is a picture of perfect fellowship with God. • What is a veil? • List some examples of when veils are used? • Perhaps most significant, why are veils used? Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen 1:26-28) Genesis 1:31 beautifully summarizes, “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” • Mankind in relation to God? “Very good.” • Mankind in relation to each other? “Very good.” • Mankind in relation to other aspects of Creation? “Very good.” • God’s call for mankind to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it? “Very good.” Genesis 2 provides even greater detail. And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen 2:8-9) Can you imagine how perfect a garden planted by God himself would be? Genesis 2:10-14 mentions bountiful God-provided water for the nourishment of the garden. “The gold of that land was good; bdellium and onyx stone are there” (Gen 2:12). Above all, the tree of life was in the midst of this God-planted garden. The one “not good” thing mentioned was the idea of the man being alone (Gen 2:18). So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. (Gen 2:21-25) That last statement is absolutely key. Everything that God has made and done is very good. Mankind has been enabled to enjoy fellowship with God and relationship with each other that has the potential to be very good. There is no reason to hide. There is no reason to fear. There is no reason to be insecure. There is no reason whatsoever for shame. God had provided only one prohibition. “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen 2:16-17)Pre-Genesis 3 life is perfect.Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Gen 3:1-2)The woman correctly responds to the serpent by quoting the prohibition of God. She understands what her Creator has prescribed and prohibited.But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:4-5)In that moment, Eve has a choice. Adam has a choice