May 21, 2006
“God’s Special Act of Providence”
Genesis 2:16-17

I. Notice God’s gracious providence toward Adam; God provided:
1. A schedule of work and rest – Genesis 2:1-3
2. Life – Genesis 2:7
3. Good food – Genesis 2:8-9
4. A wonderful home / environment – Genesis 2:8-14
5. Fulfilling employment – Genesis 2:15
6. A perfect companion / wife in Eve – Genesis 2:18-25

II. Yet, here we also see God’s governing providence:

NKJ Genesis 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 "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."

Question 12: What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created?

Answer: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.

1. God would have Adam remember WHO gave Him all this, God is God, He is LORD – 2:16
2. God puts one restriction upon Adam – Genesis 2:17
3. This restriction is not arbitrary but it is a test of Adam’s obedience – Deuteronomy 11:26-28
4. Adam’s original righteousness seems to be such that he does not consider other sins; Sabbath breaking; mistreating his wife, vandalizing the garden, etc…
5. Dying you will die -
6. Death meant not only Adam’s physical death but all of Adam’s world comes unraveled with His sin (eating the forbidden fruit) – Genesis 3:9-25; Romans 8:19-21
7. Hypothetically, Adam’s obedience would have made for a different world

III. Consider quickly the dread consequence of Adam’s fall – Immediate results:
1. Shame – Genesis 2:25; awareness of nakedness – Genesis 3:7
2. Sin caused fear of God – Genesis 3:8-10
3. Strained relationships – Genesis 3:12-13

Ultimate results:
1. The downfall of the entire race – Romans 5:12-19
2. The ultimate destruction of the heavens and the earth – 2 Peter 3:10-12

IV. Is God still good? Is there any hope?
1. God is still good / gracious to us – Matthew 5:43-45; Malachi 3:6
2. His goodness should lead us to repentance – Romans 2:4
3. His glory is still seen in the heavens and He has given us His word – Psalm 19

We have hope in Christ – Romans 5:12-19
What ill Adam caused by his choice in Eden
Christ started to reverse by His choice in Gethsemane
Yet where obedience would have been easy for Adam
Christ’s obedience involved the cross

Even our own obedience is now more difficult because of Adam’s sin – 2 Timothy 3:12

Pastor Arnold Brevick