Banished!

"...He expelled the man..." Genesis 3:24

Expelled. Drove out. Cast out. Banished. After the man and the woman disobeyed God, He told them the consequences of their rebellion. There was only one rule God gave the couple. He told them not to eat of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. One rule! And they couldn't obey! And so now they had to work and labor for their food, and for the woman, labor in childbearing. Not only that, they would return to the dirt they belonged! 

But why so harsh? Banishment? From a beautiful place God prepared specially for them? Why? We may never know why, and perhaps we can ask God when we meet Him face to face. After all, He has many secrets from us, and rightfully so. We will never be able to bear knowing everything! 

Deuteronomy 29:29 says: "The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions." The operative word here is "accountable". Imagine being accountable forever for what God has revealed! But do we read what He has revealed? How can we obey if we have not read what He has revealed? Imagine all the people who go around oblivious of all God has revealed!? Chasing after rainbows that disappear instead of the pearl of great price? 

And I think that was why we were banished, cast out from Paradise where the Tree of Life stood in all its splendor. God in His mercy, compassion and all seeing love, did not want us to be forever in this miserable plight of poverty, sin and pain. It is ironic that most men want to hold on tight to this life on earth, when it is counterfeit gold compared to the real treasures awaiting us.  

Lord, may we always realize that whatever You do, You do in love! Sometimes we complain about things that happen in our life. May we learn to trust in Your wisdom, and continue to study the things You have chosen to reveal to us.