in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die

The “it” in this quote from Genesis 2:17 is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the single unique prohibition God gave Adam and Eve. In the 24 hour period following the fall however, neither Adam nor Eve died, at least physically. So if you come to the Bible thinking that the Bible contradicts itself left right and centre, you will look no further. But if you take the Scriptures seriously, you will look for a plausible explanation. I have to confess that I have heard many implausible explanation of apparent contradictions from Christians. But I have found as I keep an open mind and continue to think, pray and study, I find many apparent contradictions simply disappear.

For me, the resolution to this particular conundrum comes in realizing that the Hebrew word “yom” is translated differently in various places. Most translated it here as “day,” but a number of translations, including the NIV, have “when you eat it.” In 1 Kings 1:1 yom is translated “years, ” and eight times in the Old Testament it is translated “age.” In fact after much thought of this and other considerations, I have come to understand the verse to mean “When you eat of it, you will enter into the season where you will start to die spiritually immediately, and where you will eventually die physically, and, if we reject the gift of His salvation (Ephesians 2:8,9), the torment of eternal separation from God (Revelation 21:8).”

With a similar meaning James, in talking about the end result of yielding to temptation says “Sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Sin is all about falling short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), or failing to live up to his standards. So often, we think we know better, and make up our own rules, our own morality. Good luck with that! I had to learn the hard way, that when God says “no,” He does so for our provision and protection. We cannot break His laws, His laws finish up breaking us. You cannot break the law of gravity, try jumping off the roof! But the consequences of trying to break His moral laws though equally serious, are not quite so immediate. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). And be it vegetables, fruit trees, or the consequences of sin, it takes time for these things to grow to maturity. Similarly it is only when sin is full-blown, that it brings forth death in all the ways described above.

Father, the more I know about Your Word, one more I am in awe of it. It shows us the path we need to take, it shows us when we are off the path, it shows us how to get back on the path, and it shows us how to stay on the path to (2 Timothy 3:16). I am aware this morning Lord, that because consequences are delayed (Ecclesiastes 8:11) it is far too easy to lose the fear of God (Romans 3:18). And I need Your help this morning Father to consistently walk Your paths. At the end of my yom I so want to hear “Well done good and faithful servant.” Even so You will deserve all the honour, glory and praise in Jesus Name Amen

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