When did the Eternal Purpose, or Plan begin? Did it at least begin in Genesis chapter 3?
Proverbs 3:19-26
19The LORD founded the earth by wisdom
and established the heavens by understanding.
20By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open,
and the clouds dripped with dew.
21My son, do not lose sight of this:
Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
22They will be life to your soul
and adornment to your neck.
23Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
25Do not fear sudden danger
or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from the snare.
God begin His eternal plan before the world ever was. So stated in verse 19. If we gain His wisdom and understanding (not the worlds not Satan's, not traditions of men or church doctrine) We get to go forward in safety, our foot will not stumble. We will not be afraid when we rest and our sleep will be sweet. We do not have to fear sudden danger; or the ruin of the wicked. Why? For the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from the snare.
Lets go to Job. Job has put up with 37 chapters of being told this happened to you because of some hidden sin. Job begin to feel sorry for himself. He forgot that God was with him.
Then in chapter 38 God shows up in the same way He will in Ezekiel for this happened way before that.
What does God tell him to do. Verse 3. Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. God said “Job pick yourself up put on your big boy paints we are going to have a talk.” Then God starts to question Job.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Did God ask this of Job knowing he had no understanding of what He was talking about or did Job have some knowledge about it.
7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Who are the morning stars, who are the sons of God. They are all His children and His angles and the 2 Cherubim that protected the mercy seat. We know that one of the Cherubim was Satan. So this took place before Genesis 1:2
Proverbs 8
22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
So to answer your question; When did the Eternal Purpose, or Plan begin? It Began when God did. Hen was that? Only God knows but long before Genesis 3. Before the first earth age when the dinosaurs lived. There were no dinosaurs on the ark.
This is a lie put forth by man that comes straight from the mouth of Satan
The story we have all heard is that dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago and therefore weren’t around when Noah and company set sail on the Ark around 4,300 years ago.[Editor’s Note (July 2016): See the latest research by AiG’s Ark Encounter researchers on Ark animals, size, logistics, and other details at ArkEncounter.com.]The story we have all heard from movies, television, newspapers, and most magazines and textbooks is that dinosaurs “ruled the Earth” for 140 million years, died out 65 million years ago, and therefore weren’t around when Noah and company set sail on the Ark around 4,300 years ago.However, the Bible gives a completely different view of Earth (and therefore, dinosaur) history. As God’s written Word to us, we can trust it to tell the truth about the past. (For more information about the reliability of Scripture, see