God had a plan for man in the beginning. He had created him in his image and likeness for a special purpose. He gave man a simple test to determine man’s willingness to fulfill his purpose. Man failed. The Westminster shorter catechism question 12 deals with God’s providence in regard to God’s original plan. We will discuss the meaning behind the story of Adam and Eve in the fall of man. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? When God created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.