Escape from Paradise: Interpreting the Allegory (Chapters 7-10)

Chapter 7

There are no new points of analogy in chapter seven.

Chapter 8The Desire for the Little one’s Approval

Adam’s desire for the little ones’ approval represents our desire to be respected by the world. Especially, in our culture, in the academic/scientific community. We can’t stand the thought that smart people would laugh at us or think of us as primitive or foolish. We want to be respected. Very often, Christian writers compromise faithfulness to God’s Word in order to be taken seriously by the academic world.

But it should be no surprise to us that the world thinks us foolish. They think the same thing about God. The cross is foolishness to them. The wisest, most beautiful act of salvation God ever performed is, in their eyes, a dumb idea.

We can win the world’s favor, or we can have God’s favor—but not both.

Chapter 9The Eye Salve

The eye-salve represents naturalism (the belief that only the physical world exists).

Later in the story Adam discovers that the salve gives him great near vision, but terrible distance vision. People who think only physical things exist can see what’s right in front of their faces (this physical world) but are utterly blind to everything else. In the words of 2 Peter 1:9 “they have become nearsighted and blind.”

Chapter 10

There are no new points of analogy in chapter ten.

Chapter 8 Questions

EXCERPT

“Fruit is outlawed in the high country,” Alexander said.
   “Outlawed? Why? How do they live without eating?” -p.77

QUESTION 1:

Sometimes it seems like satisfaction would be impossible without the pleasure of some enticing sin. In moments like that, how could Isaiah 55:1—2 and Psalm 63:3 help you?

QUESTION 2:

How could Proverbs 5:3—4 help you?

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