Creation and the Fall: Recap

In the final scene of the fall, God drives Adam and Eve from the garden so that they could not, "take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." (Genesis 3:21)  Derek Kidner suggests this might be because of "logical necessity, since eternal life is fellowship with God."  I think he's right but would add that I don't like to imagine a world where evil people lived forever.

That pretty much wraps up the creation and fall of man and I think it's a good place to stop and consider a little historical context.  

The first five books of the Bible have their authorship attributed to Moses and tell the story of God's interactions with man up through the creation of the nation of Israel.  The Israelite people were brought out of the nation of Egypt (that story is in Exodus) where they were exposed to a different view of the world that included many gods struggling for balance and control. 

The Genesis account would have been particularly important to the fledgling nation.  First, it gives a view of the world as created by single all-powerful being that creates everything.  The same god that created the heavens also created the earth, the seas, the plants, the animals, and mankind.  Second, it establishes that mankind is created in God's image and given great value by him.  Finally, it establishes man's rebellion as the root cause of suffering, struggle and evil in the world.  Each of these would have been radically different from the views they would have been exposed to in Egypt.