Expert: Quentin Parker - 9/22/2010

Question
What was purpose for the "Tree of Knowledge" and "Tree of
Life" being in Garden of Eden....?

How did Noah get all the animals in the Ark.....?

Where there other people on Earth before Adam and Eve.....?

Answer
Hello Dennis,

Thank-you for your question.

God’s purpose in placing the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil in the Garden and commanding Adam and Eve not to eat from it was to test Adam and Eve. There was nothing inherently evil about the tree itself; it was Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God that was the problem. God’s sovereign plan, however, in allowing sin and providing redemption is part of His hidden will; He hasn’t revealed it to us. As Deuteronomy 29:29 says “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

Scripture says that God brought the animals to Noah. If by your question you meant “How did they all fit in the ark?” here’s a link to an excellent article on the subject: http://creation.com/how-did-all-the-animals-fit-on-noahs-ark  

No, according to Genesis 1 and 2 there were no other people on earth before Adam and Eve. Adam was the first person God created. Here’s a link to a good article by creation scientist Ken Ham that you might find helpful: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/nab/who-was-cains-wife

I hope this answers your questions, Dennis.

God bless!
Quentin Parker