Why Weren't Adam and Eve Killed Immediately?

We know that God specifically told the first two people that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they'd die that day. So why didn't they fall dead? If Eve had died instantly, Adam might not have eaten of the fruit as well.

This might come as a surprise to some folks but our Lord is ever merciful. Certain people have the errant view that God is harsh, killing people who offended him. After all, he vaporized whole cities and drowned almost all humanity.

As I pointed out before, God is merciful as well as just. We read in Genesis 3:21 (BBE) how an animal died in their place. "And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins for their clothing." This also covered their shame.

Better still, the Lord prevented the first couple from living eternally in their fallen sinful state. Genesis 3:22 BBE) explains why Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden. "And the Lord God said, 'Now the man has become like one of us, having knowledge of good and evil; and now if he puts out his hand and takes of the fruit of the tree of life, he will go on living for ever.'"

As I've also pointed out before, God prophesied to the first two people that the snake, emblematic of Satan, would be defeated. And so it happened when Christ went to the cross to pay for the sins of whosoever surrendered themselves to his rulership.

When the disciple, Thomas, said he didn't know where Jesus was going, he gave him this answer in John 14:6 (BBE). "Jesus said to him, 'I am the true and living way: no one comes to the Father but by me.'"

This is a most important statement as Christ was that perfect sacrifice, the only one God would accept. This is why we must tell people that the only way they can go to be with God is through Jesus. John 10:9 (BBE) states, "I am the door: if any man goes in through me he will have salvation, and will go in and go out, and will get food."

Likewise, Revelation 3:20 (BBE) quotes Christ, "See, I am waiting at the door and giving the sign; if my voice comes to any man's ears and he makes the door open, I will come in to him, and will take food with him and he with me."

On Thursday, God willing, I'll post details on God's grand plan to save his faithful saints.