Genesis 3:24

So he drove the man: and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned everyway to keep the way of the tree of life 

Our object of reflection today is the cherubim. Strong’s Concordance says that they’re created winged celestial creatures.

Man is the outcome of the eternal purpose of God: the reflection of Himself, his desire, thought and will. Man is to behold Him, learn Him and express Him. In all eternity, man is to reflect God – this is his business, his calling, the very reason why he is. In the book of Revelations, some beings round His throne called the four beasts continue to discover a glorious and holy new aspects of Him every moment and, in wonderment, shout “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty…” (Revelations 4:8). Apart from God being spirit, He is a moral entity and by this everything in the universe coheres. Man is to reflect this moral essence of God but he rather chose to go contrary to this divine nature of discovering the glory of God and reflecting it on earth. Yet, man is the reason the universe exists; and man exists for God. But he has now failed to reflect the nature, the thought, will and desire of God. His evil fragrance has started to permeat the earth, the universe just as little pinch of yeast is able to take over the nature of dough. Man has become a contrary being to the mind of God. He needs to be taken out of the way or annihilated. This is what man is by nature – the anti will, anti- desire and the anti-thought of God. It’ll be a much more damage to come to LIFE of God in his present state.

For this, man is removed from the garden and cherubim with a fiery turning sword is placed to guide the tree of life from man’s reach. The sword indicates judgement. The cherubim show holy jealousy for God’s glory. The tree of life is tied to it.

In this first encounter in the bible, the cherubim are seen guiding the tree of life from the reach of man. But by the age of Israel’s move to Canaan, there has been a change. Form there it’s seen that cherubim are integral parts of redemption plan instituted by God. A representation of two cherubim are made from one piece gold with the lid on which the Mercy seat rests, one either side. The carved cherubim are looking into the ark of covenant, indicating keen interest in mercy and redemption. Above the ark and overshadowing the mercy seat were the representative of the cherubim (…. which were the symbol of) glory…(Hebrews 9:5 – Amplifier).

On the curtains too are the woven images of the cherubim as well as on the demarcating curtain between the Holy of holies and the holy place. In Solomon’s temple, the cherubim, apart from the gold-carved ones on the Mercy seat, they also appear on the walls. The way to the tree of life is now being made open. The psalmists from then begin to describe God as He who dwells or live between the cherubim.

In comparing scripture with scripture, it’s easy to see that cherubim are the Ezekiel’s living creature that I saw under the God of Israel (Ezekiel 10:20). In the book of Revelations, they are translated as four beasts. 

Holy are You, Lord. Your glory fills the whole earth. Oh, the earth is full of Your glory. We shout with the four beasts of the book of revelation, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come. Known unto You are all Your works from the beginning of the world. Thank You for the plan of redemption for us who should be complete monsters, an abbheration to existence.

From looking into the cherubim, we understand that You did plan redemption from the beginning of the world.

Thank You, Lord for this