Cool of the Day

Q: Is there a significance that God chose to come to the garden in the cool of the day after Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit?

A: Thank you for your question. No, I do not believe there is necessarily any significance to God coming to Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. However, it presents an opportunity to discuss God and the salvation offered in Christ Jesus. In Genesis 3:8, it says, "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." It appears that "cool of the day," is simply referring to the time of day that God was walking in the Garden. The cool of the day can best be described as that time of day just around sunset. Song of Solomon 4:6 says, “Until the cool of the day When the shadows flee away..." The time of day when "the shadows flee away," indicates that the sun is setting or is about to set since shadows are said to be fleeing. You cannot have shadows without light. It is interesting that sin entered the world just before darkness fell since the Bible equates sin with darkness on so many occasions (Ephesians 5:11; Colossians 1:13). And, consequently, the Bible also equates salvation and God with light (John 12:46).

John 3:19-20, is a perfect description of the contrast between light and darkness and unbelief and salvation. "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." Have you ever walked into a dark room, switched on the lights and witnessed insects scurrying off towards the shadows? It is because they love the darkness. Unseemly things love the darkness. Why are children, and even some adults, afraid of the dark? It is because darkness is where the "monsters" hide. When does most crime take place? It takes place in the darkness. Even the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is described like a thief operating in the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Darkness is the absence of light. Sin is the absence of God. And when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world because God removed His life from them.

The Bible tells us where God lives. "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see (1 Timothy 6:15-16)." God lives in "unapproachable light." That means if He approaches us we would be repelled by the light. It also means that we cannot approach Him because of that same light. Therefore, in order for Him to begin to have a relationship with us He had to reveal Himself in such a way that would allow for that to happen. He chose to do this as Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, God removed His life from them and they spiritually died. That spiritual death can be described as darkness. Ephesians 5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Notice the contrast given between light and darkness? Christians, prior to being born again, are described as once being "darkness," but now we are "light in the Lord." This is because God, the light, now indwells us. Therefore, we are encouraged to live as "children of light." The life of God, lost when Adam and Eve sinned, is now restored to us because our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to do a study on light and darkness in the Bible and see where it takes you. I am confident it will encourage you in your faith. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).” Christians will never again walk in darkness because of the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. He is the light of the world and now that light is within every believer. Therefore, wherever a Christian is located in the world, the light of the world is there with them because of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, next time you are outside during the "cool of the day," remember Genesis 3:8 and how when sin entered the world darkness entered the world also. Allow the fleeing shadows to remind you of how God removed His life from Adam and Eve. But, also remember how Jesus Christ is the light of the world. And it is His life, the life of God, which has been restored to all those who have accepted Him by faith. His light now shines through Christians into a dark world as its only hope of salvation. I pray this brings new meaning to the phrase "cool of the day." May God continue to reveal to you the blessings you already have been given in Christ Jesus our Lord.