The Big Picture Story Bible – Part 3: Life Outside the Garden
Podcast: The Big Picture Story Bible
Host/Narrator: David Helm (Crossway)
Date: April 28, 2020
Episode Overview
In this episode, “Life Outside the Garden,” David Helm narrates the aftermath of Adam and Eve’s departure from the Garden of Eden. The focus is on humanity’s struggles in a world marred by disobedience and distance from God, emphasizing both the consequences of sin and the emergence of hope through God’s promise to bless all peoples.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Consequences of Leaving the Garden
- Reason for Exile:
God drove Adam and Eve from Eden because they "disobeyed him and rejected him as king." (00:08)
- Immediate Results:
- Separation from God
- Difficulty in relationships ("began having difficulty with each other")
- Increased hardship ("Raising children was hard. Finding food was even harder.")
- Mortality begins ("their coming death was now beginning to make their bodies grow older")
(00:14–00:28)
- Tone:
Life outside the garden is described as "terrible," emphasizing universal suffering and alienation.
2. The Spread of Disobedience
- Generational Defiance:
"Adam and Eve ruled the world in evil ways. And they had children who did just the same."
- Disobedience multiplies through children, grandchildren, and beyond.
- Collective rejection of God’s goodness and authority. (00:30–00:45)
- The Universal Condition:
- “Outside the garden, everyone doubted how good God was.”
- “Outside the garden, everyone disobeyed God’s word.”
- “Outside the garden, everyone ruled the world in evil ways.”
(00:37–00:45)
3. God’s Sorrow and Judgment
- Divine Sadness:
“This made God very sad. All the peoples of the earth had rejected him as king.” (00:46)
- The Flood as Judgment:
- God’s decision: "God decided to judge all the peoples of the earth. He decided to send a big flood on the place he had made." (00:50)
- One exception: Noah, who "listened to God." (01:01)
4. Noah and Salvation
- Obedience Amidst Disobedience:
God’s instructions to Noah:
- Build a "great big boat."
- "Put many animals on the boat."
- "Bring his family on the boat."
"And Noah did what God said." (01:02–01:10)
- Destruction and Rescue:
"God sent a big flood of water. Everything that lived on land died. But Noah, his family and the animals on the boat were saved." (01:14–01:20)
5. Lessons from the Flood
- About Judgment:
"God will judge every single person who rejects him as king." (01:23)
- About Need:
"Every single person needs God’s blessing." (01:27)
- A Glimpse of Hope:
"God promised to bless all the peoples of the earth." (01:30)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On exile from Eden:
"God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden because they disobeyed him and rejected him as king." – David Helm (00:05)
- Describing life after:
"Raising children was hard. Finding food was even harder. And their coming death was now beginning to make their bodies grow older." – David Helm (00:17)
- Universal lostness:
"Outside the garden, everyone doubted how good God was. Outside the garden, everyone disobeyed God’s word. Outside the garden, everyone ruled the world in evil ways." – David Helm (00:37–00:45)
- God’s promise:
"God promised to bless all the peoples of the earth." – David Helm (01:30)
Important Segment Timestamps
- 00:01–00:08 – Why Adam and Eve were exiled from Eden
- 00:14–00:28 – Hardships of life outside the garden
- 00:30–00:45 – Disobedience multiplies through generations
- 00:46–00:50 – God’s sorrow and decision to judge
- 01:01–01:10 – Noah’s obedience and God’s instructions
- 01:14–01:20 – The flood and Noah’s salvation
- 01:23–01:30 – Lessons of judgment and the promise of blessing
Summary
“Life Outside the Garden” carefully outlines the ramifications of humanity’s first sin, the spread of rebellion, and God’s resulting sorrow and judgment through the flood. Yet, the episode concludes with a forward-looking note: despite judgment, God remains committed to blessing all peoples—a promise that anchors the overarching story of the Bible.
