The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Life before the Fall

QUESTION: What was the purpose of ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, etc. before the Fall?<br>ANSWER:Food! [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin[/img] It is my opinion that death existed pre-Fall because those creatures which made up the animal kingdom had to eat, whether it was plants or other animals. And, when the LORD told Adam that he would surely die, if he should eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, unless there was something for him to relate the meaning of that word to, it would have been nothing more than "nonsense" to him. So, that might be something to continue thinking about.<br><br>QUESTION: What was the purpose of the "dust" from which Adam was made?<br>ANSWER: I'm not sure that "dust" is necessarily the best translation of the Hebrew word, aphar. The several meanings of this word are: dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud:--ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish. Perhaps it might be better to translate this word as "earth", or "ground". The body of Adam was formed from that which had no life of its own (Gen 2:7) thus impressing us that our "life" is from God who breathed into a body and created the soul; i.e., the imago dei (image of God). Thus, all that we are as persons, we owe to God our Creator and Sustainer. When we die, our bodies return to their place of origin, the earth and our souls likewise return to their origin, God. One of most moving passages of Scripture, for me, is Ezekiel 37. If one reads that portion of Scripture carefully, one will see that the "dry bones" were animated, i.e., they were given the parts of a body such as muscles, skin, etc., yet they were not really "alive". It isn't until the "four winds" (Holy Spirit) comes and breathes on these lifeless bodies that they came "alive". We are made by God, for God and will return to God in the end.<blockquote>Romans 11:33-36 (ASV) "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him [be] the glory for ever. Amen."</blockquote>In His Grace,