EAST OF EDEN

I have often thought of the importance of the eastward direction in the Bible. Sometimes directions in Scripture have a spiritual meaning, just as names do. North, south, east, and west are ordinary geographical words, but biblical writers occasionally use them symbolically. Of these directions, the "east" is often used in narratives about humanity’s drifting away from God’s presence, the rise of rebellion, or being seduced into worshipping creation rather than the Creator.

Adam and Eve sinned, and God banished them from the Garden of Eden. The story is told in Genesis, where it says, "So he drove out the man; and placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). With the Cherubim standing at the entrance to the east, if Adam had tried to return, his back would have been toward the east with him heading west. We now know there is no way back to the tree of life except through the Door, Christ Jesus.

The symbolism continues with Cain. Cain killed his brother Abel and was judged. Cain was cast out from the presence of the Lord: "And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden" (Gen. 4:16). East of Eden was the place Cain tried to make a life without a restored relationship with God. He founded a city, named it after his son, and started a family line characterized by technological success (blacksmithing and musical instruments) but also by increasing violence. One of Cain's descendants, Lamech, bragged about killing a man and promised vengeance that would overshadow Cain's violence.

When Abraham and Lot parted ways, Lot chose the fertile plain of Jordan: "Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east" (Genesis 13:11). He was bound for the east and gradually drew near to Sodom. His first act was to pitch his tent near the city. Then he dwelt in the city and later took up a position in politics at the city gate. What started as a practical decision brought Lot and his family into the middle of a wickedly corrupt culture.

It is noted that the entrance of the tabernacle was on the east side. That means that a worshiper who entered the sanctuary would move from east to west, from the direction of exile to the presence of God in the Most Holy Place. It is as if this arrangement reverses the tragedy of Eden. Humanity had been banished from God’s presence to the east, but the sanctuary offered a God-ordained method of approaching Him once again. The cherubim embroidered on the veil in the holy place and those placed over the mercy seat also put one in mind of the cherubim who guarded Eden. But in the tabernacle, the blood of sacrifice permitted a representative of the people to pass beyond the veil.

On the Day of Atonement the high priest would take the blood of the sacrifice into the Most Holy Place: "And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle blood with his finger seven times" (Leviticus 16:14). The blood was sprinkled on the east side of the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat. Sin had driven man out to the east. So the blood was sprinkled toward the east to cover the sin. No human achievement, no wealth, no education, no religious ceremony, or moral certainty could break through the barrier sin had set up. Reconciliation had cost the life of an innocent substitute.

Centuries later, God showed the prophet Ezekiel the secret corruption going on in the same temple that had housed the mercy seat. God led him into a chamber where the elders were secretly practicing idolatry. These secret chambers of imagery show how outward religion can conceal inward idolatry. The elders still had spiritual authority, but in secret their minds were filled with images God had forbidden. "And there were about twenty-five men; and their backs were to the temple of the LORD, and their faces to the east; and they worshipped toward the east to the sun" (Ezekiel 8:16). They were in the temple of God, but their backs were turned away from His sanctuary. They looked eastward to the rising sun.

Such behavior is the nature of idolatry. It is to replace God with something that is from God. The sun is nice, but it is not God. Knowledge is good, but it’s not God. Prosperity, government, technology, family, health, and religious tradition may all be good, but none can take the place that belongs to the Lord.

God called Abraham out of Mesopotamia and directed him to the land of promise. Abraham’s journey was, in a way, a reversal of humanity's earlier journey. While the previous generations traveled to Shinar to make a name for themselves, Abraham left that region because God promised to make his name great. 

East is not evil, but it often signifies exile and spiritual danger. The very direction from which humanity had departed became the direction from which God’s glory returned. Ezekiel said, "And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice [was] as the noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory (Ezekiel 43:2). Earlier in Ezekiel’s vision, the glory of the Lord had left Jerusalem through the eastern gate. Later, it came back from the east.

The story of Scripture starts with humanity being cast out of God’s presence and cut off from the tree of life. It ends with redeemed humanity living with God and having access to that tree of life once again. Jesus is the way back home from exile. The high priest entered the Most Holy Place with the blood of another, but Christ entered with His own blood. The Old Testament priests offered sacrifices every year, but Jesus made one sacrifice that was sufficient. At his death, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom. It was God who opened the barrier, not man. Most seriously, we repeat the sin of Ezekiel's worshipers whenever we approach the things of God and turn our backs on God Himself. One can be in the temple but still be facing the wrong direction. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Through Christ, the exiled may return, the guilty may be forgiven, and those who have turned their backs on God may turn toward Him again.

The important question is not simply, “Where are you standing?”

It is, “Which direction are you facing?” Feel free to respond. :)