Considering that each year subtracted from Cain and Abels ages at the time of Abels murder could be added to Adam and Eves time in the Garden, its quite possible that Adam and Eve spent many years in the Garden, which would make their sin all that more sorrowful. That God would withhold his presence before they sinned, but then come down among them only after they sinned, seems counter to the biblical teaching of God drawing near to the righteous and drawing back from the unrighteous. The complete bible account of the story of Adam and Eve can be found in Genesis 1:26 to Genesis 5:5. The Bible likens our righteousness to filthy rags. Your entire post is irrelevant to the discussion because you are trying to show what it means when it says that someone walked with God. 8 Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. Haha very eye opening. God cannot look upon sin ( Habakkuk 1:13) and that's why He told Moses no one can see His face and live ( Exodus 33:20 ). This concept is very helpful and it incorporates all of the othersintelligence, communication, worship, dominion, an eternal soul. The unborn child, the mentally handicapped, the elderly, and even our worst enemiesall are made in the image of God. As I mentioned near the end of the post, I have no problem with the idea that Adam and Eve may have walked with God. So if they were in the garden for a month, how many times (if ever) did they walk with God? What an amazing thing to be able to do. Suggestions include that it means we are made as rational creatures that can communicate with and worship God, or that we have been given dominion, or that we will live forever. He is eternally begotten of the Father, one with the Father, in essence, but he had not yet become flesh. Because Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the Lord sent them out of the Garden of Eden into the world. You havent dealt with this in your explanation. Keep up the good work brother, the TRUTH shall be the only thing that sets us free. We must know that Eve and Adam's life in the Garden of Eden was beyond happy. Genesis 3:21 comes after Genesis 3:7, in which Adam and Eve ate from the Tree and realized they were naked. However, I also notice in chapter 2 that Adam recognized God speaking (commanding) to him concerning the forbidden tree. Hi Kevin, The texts of Genesis 1-3 outright tell us ONLY what is necessary for our understanding of the events from Creation to the Fall, not of side issues that mean nothing for a proper interpretation of these texts. Noah walked with God Genesis 6:9. Adam heard God making a sound (aside from speaking) that God had made before and which enabled Adam to recognise that it was the sound of God. After all, they had not experienced or seen death as of yet. there are many who use the idea of Adam and Eve actually walking with God to stress the theological point of mans closeness to God prior to sin in order to contrast that with mans lost condition after sin. Adam said, I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself (Genesis 3:10, ESV). Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. Lastly, as scripture verifies scripture, we see the second Adam, known as Jesus Christ in regular and perpetual contact with the same God and Father. And maybe that is it, people just want to believe they they did as that is such a powerful feeling knowing God is walking with you. I think this point has to be acknowledged regardless of whether you think the sound is God walking in the cool of day or God manifesting himself in a strong wind. The difficulties of translation, plus inevitable translator bias, can complicate getting a true understanding. Bible Answer: They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. God bless! We know that God is capable of doing this, but my point is that the text never states or implies that He did. It seems likely that many people have just remembered some of the wording in this verse and assumed that it says Adam and Eve walked with God. Theres no reason to think that they waited 60+ years to have children when they were already husband and wife and were created by God to fulfill the instructions He had given them, including be fruitful and multiply.. In all likelihood, it comes from a misunderstanding of or making an inference from Genesis 3:8: And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day (NKJV). It would be accurate if the point of my article was to claim that Adam and Eve did not walk with God in the Garden prior to sin. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden Genesis 3:8. There are many others that could be added to this list but this illustrates . Hi Tim. Instead of adding our own ideas to Scripture and stating them dogmatically and demanding apologies from anyone who disagrees, perhaps we should learn to deal carefully with the word of God. More than like, Cains wife was his sister, or possibly a niece. Would that seem that they must have heard His voice at some other time. The only possible biblical reference to walking in the Garden of Eden is found after Adam and Eve sinned. Thank you for your post and your diligence to pursuing Biblical accuracy! The only time we see Eve converse with God in Scripture is after she ate the fruit and hid with Adam among the trees of the garden. If youre interested, heres the link: https://answersingenesis.org/jesus-christ/incarnation/theophanies-in-the-old-testament/ 18? Adam and Eve were happy and satisfied in the beautiful garden. Here is the verse in its entirety. But even if that happens to be the right way to look at it, then it may still be correct to view this as a theophany. We cant know because the Bible doesnt speak to this at all. Hi Tim The Bible even indicates that God may have taken on a physical form in order to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:8). I dont have a problem with people thinking that Adam and Eve walked with God (as I stated, they may have), but I want people to realize that the Bible doesnt say that they did. That he still comes to them even after theyve sinned emphasizes that they have made the first move away from him, before he moves them away from Himself by putting them out of Eden. Here is just one example about working the land 26:1 make no idols. Tim please do a small word study on walking and when you do you will find that walking refers to a living relationship with the said persons mentioned . Ive heard far too many people claim, The Bible says Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day. Thats simply false. It bothered me for the day into right now where I went on the internet to find something credible and I landed here. So if we can claim that they walked with God in perfect communion before sin, then we can stress how bad sin is because we dont get to do that anymore. We know that the Israelites did eat some of their animals during the year. When God gave commandments to Adam and Eve, he also granted them the ability to intelligently decide whether to keep that covenant from God, or choose to disobey God. It does not say that God drove Adam and Eve, or the man and the woman, out of the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve enjoyed a relationship with God, and with each other, that was unhindered by the disruptive power of sin. I found it interesting that with all the opinions to the idea of walking with God in the comments section, not too many have thanked you for letting us know that Gods Word does not say that Adam or Eve walked with God in the Garden. . They were not merely spiritual beings at that point. Hi Janice, However, that story or statement being preached wont cause anyone to fall into sin. I would argue that angels are probably made in His image as well,. Instead, it encourages people to draw a distinction between what Scripture actually states and the inferences we make based on those statements, even if they are quite reasonable. Hi Ian, God has, in certain instances, revealed Himself in bodily form. There may have been thousands of years, who knows? So I will get rid of the statement being discussed here. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. My guess is that they would not have had nearly enough animals to eat over their forty year wandering. Its not hard at all to see that Adams and Eves sins broke the right standing they had with God. He may have seen the trees and the garden as God spoke those words, but he probably hadnt eaten yet. Because we are made in Gods image, we are called to image God. Why would anyone ask such a silly question? Adam and Eve said, 'Lord, when we were in the garden, You walked with us every day. If you must doubt something, I think you would have to doubt that. It is possible that the Lord taught them how to do certain things, as you say, but it certainly wasnt necessary. (Vs. 14) Did this wind also clothe Adam and Eve with skins from an animal that had to be killed? If that suggestion is accurate, then it would have been a physical presence of God coming in judgment, similar to how He spoke from the whirlwind in Job. If I am walkin* with you I would assume you are walking with me? " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word . Then let the land rest on the seventh year right? And therefore, it seems to me familiarity was brought about by regular communion/ communication/ visits from the Lord. Was it God walking or was it something different? Adam and Eve are walking around in the Garden of Eden, and they meet up with this serpent who asks them an interesting question: "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the . This just isnt found in the text and seems very unlikely in light of the details given in the post. They hide among the trees. Thanks for caring about biblical accuracy. Thanks for the kind response. God went down to talk with Adam and Eve as usual in the cool of the day, normally they would be in the open and easy to find, but this time when God came they were afraid and had hidden behind some trees or bushes. Yet now the man and the woman are hiding from God in fear. For example, the Passover lamb was to be eaten (Exodus 12:8). You asked who they were conversing with. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the gardenThe divine Being appeared in the same manner as formerlyuttering the well-known tones of kindness, walking in some visible form (not running hastily, as one impelled by the influence of angry feelings). The problem with this scenario is that Adam and Eve were almost certainly not in the Garden very long. And they heard the sound of the Lord God, walking in the garden. 21 AND IF YOU WALK CONTRARY TO ME AND NOT LISTEN TO ME THEN I WILL ring 7 times more plagues upon you 22 I will also send wild beasts among you 23 and if you will not be reformed by me by these things BUT WILL WALK CONTRARY TO ME 24 THEN I WILL WALK CONTRARY TO YOU and punish you 7 times more for your sins Im not sure where you got the idea that Im hellbent on trying to make a point of saying that Adam and Eve did not walk with God. I have no problem with the idea that Adam and Eve may have walked with God, which is what I stated in the conclusion of the post and in several follow-up comments. They forgot about God. And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:8. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden Genesis 3:8. To spend time with Him. So it seems as if Abel had just recently passed away. If strong wind is a better translation, then it would not be saying that God was walking in the garden, but instated that He was moving in the garden. He gives instructions and warnings and they fear Him when they disobey. Hi Bob, Where is the specific support for this argument found anywhere in the scriptures? God walking with people normally suggests closeness and intimacy and fellowship. It is doubtful that God threw Adam into a confusing environment where he would be overwhelmed with the array of plants and animals. Adam and Eve surely knew that the punishment for rebellion was deathand even if they didnt understand the fullness of that word, they knew it wasnt good. . Im not sure what this has to do with whether they walked with God in the garden. So what did they hear in the Garden? Sorry for the delayed response. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. . Yes, Im aware that the KJV translates the term as voice. But look closely, notice that it never says they walked with the voice of God. They may have done that, and I wouldnt have any problem with it. And it was a good animal and God was pleased. But since God formed (literally squeezed into shape) Adam and breathed into his nostrils and removed one of his ribs and closed up the wound and walked in the garden and spoke to Adam and Eve (and then Cain later on) in a way they could easily understand, the assumption is unavoidable that God was physically there in tangible form. Hi Ralph, Personal fellowship with God is at the very heart of our purpose for being! To say that life was good in the Garden of Eden would be an understatement. I just want to offer a thought about Cain and Abels ages. Adam and Eve as well as other people born during the no-sin era. Never stop, word will not go void! Hello Tim, I honestly do not understand why you are so hellbent on trying to make a point of saying that Adam and Eve did not walk with God? For more information on the subject of Heaven, see Randy Alcorns book Heaven. The Garden of Eden, the terrestrial Paradise known also as the Garden of God, is one of the most famous settings in the Bible. If this is the correct way to understand the wording in Genesis 3, then I think it would be something similar. While its within the realm of possibility that Adam and Eve were 60+ when expelled from the garden, I find it extremely unlikely. We read that God planted a garden and placed Adam there to tend it ( Genesis 2:8, 15 ). Answer (1 of 22): Yes. An additional notable commentary is that God made Adam in His image and likeness, and imbued him with His Spirit the breath of life. We walk with the voice of God as well. They are not taking a leisurely stroll with God, they are hiding from Him as He comes to announce His judgment. If He was walking, then this must have been a theophany - a pre-incarnate appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity. Here is the verse in its entirety. With that being said, I agree with you that it is reasonable to infer that He spent time with them, but the Bible does not imply that He did, and that was the point of this post. Hi Robert, Two things that they did see. 14Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.. I agree with you that we cannot say with certainty that God walked with them, I am just here to point out that the language suggests a repetitive habit of God. Romans 5:10-12 The same (principle) applies to the natural reading of anything: that according to the thing itself. The untold truth of the Garden of Eden. I dont really hear anyone saying, The Bible says Adam and Eve never walked with God in the garden, but if I did, then Id correct that as well. Its not that the inferences are necessarily wrong, its that they should not be mistaken for the Word of God. So when the text says that Adam heard the sound of the Lord moving in the garden, it doesnt necessarily mean that Adam knew right away that it was God making the noise. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.". Yes, Adam and Eve were made in His image (as are all of us), but I would argue that angels are probably made in His image as well, and even the holy angels arent in ongoing (i.e. Here is a portion of what I wrote on page 72 of my book, Fallen. But thats not at all what is going on here. Now we do not see You any more. To add to the post above, another theological consideration is the temple. No? Tim, thanks for striking the axe at the root of this human imagined concept. I to am searching regarding worship in OT times and wondered about Adam walking with God. 10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden. 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. Adam and Eve and God literally walking next to each other in perfect harmony. Even if this translation is accurate, which is debatable, it does not say that they walked with God. 3. In fact, they didn't even know what want and longing were! Whats different, and merits the commentary, is not that God has for the first time come to walk in the Garden, but that for the first time his walking in the Garden is responded to in fear and hiding, due to sin. Seems to me there was plenty of interaction & communication between Adam (& Perhaps Eve) and God. Therefore, it is likely that Adam and Eve had been experiencing close fellowship with the Lord God. Thanks for your comments. 2. What can we honestly infer from the scriptures? This is a different subject. He gives them clothes in Verse 21 because the evil deed, of eating from . There are many, many Christians who have heard and taught that Adam and Eve physically took walks with God in the garden before they sinned. Adam and Eve. I dont recall what prompted it, but I do remember searching for the phrase, God walked with Adam in the cool of the day. You indicate a possible strong wind; did this wind also speak to the serpent and curse it? Surely, He wouldve given them the ability to do that right from the start. Hello! But as seasoned believers we need to understand it is better to use our hearts to hear the sermons the pastors preach rather than the details of the text. Regardless, my point is that Adam was familiar enough to recognized it was God. Adam and Eve were the first human beings, from whom every other human being descends. It seems so trivial.