Genesis 3:24 God Exiled Man from Eden to Set the Stage for the Exodus from Satan's Counterfeit Kingdom


Genesis 3:24 (NIV) 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

EXILE from God's direct presence is God's merciful act to lead us to our EXODUS out of enslavement to SIN while trapped in the clutches of Satan's counterfeit kingdom. Sin is any thought, act we commit or omit that betrays our relationship with God. God does not want us to be eternally bound to a state that betrays our relationship with HIM. God is so passionate about protecting an un-betrayed relationship with him that he places his guardians, the cherubim, and a flaming sword of judgement in the way. He will not allow us to remain in an eternal state of betrayal and have full access to his presence. We must experience his true Exodus from anything that betrays the relationship, which was ultimately made possible only because of Christ's willing and redeeming sacrifice on the cross.

2 Corinthians 5:17–19 (NIV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

God's would not embrace a humanity beholden to a false king. In God's kingdom there is only one King. Without the fulness of the Kingdom of God, the fulness of God's new creation cannot become reality. It is out of God's mercy that he enables us to welcome the true King, our Lord Jesus, and allow him to transform us and sanctify us so that we may be restored to the image of God. 

Exile, therefore, is a gift that enables us to return with repentant hearts as we re-embrace the true King who leads us in an Exodus from the counterfeit kingdom Satan is attempting to build.


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