What he’d brought into the world also caused that world to develop its thorns and thistles. The next two verses not only contain God’s admonition to Adam, they also speak to the problems of working that have existed since sin entered the world.
Till the garden would have been easy. But, now it would bring forth problems, instead of simply bearing fruit. Every difficulty we encounter, no matter what our work is, can be traced back to these thorns and thistles. Every task that seems fruitless, every attempt to get something done that ultimately fails, comes because of this.
Of course, work has success, too. God promises that success will come, when He tells Adam he shall eat the herb of the field. What he is saying, though, is that that herb is going to be hard to come by, much harder than if sin were not present.
Some jobs bring more difficulties than others, of course. In some, it’s the location – a house in a poor market might not sell for man months, even with the best seller. With some, it’s the nature of the job – the best doctor can’t save every patient. Even in a field where that doctor would rarely ever see something bad, there will always be that one case that turns out to be an untreatable cancer. Thorns and thistles come up in every field.
And yet, when all is said and done, that agent can find someone to buy, if the price is low enough. The surgeon in the busiest emergency room, with the worst accidents, will be able to save some. The herb of the field will come. It will just be with a lot of effort, a lot of toil, and a lot of sweat.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Gen. 3:17
God addresses Adam next. The first thing one sees here is that God states that he listened to his wife. Aside from the obvious point – which was stated earlier – that they were already married before the Fall, there are a few interesting points to this.
First, God doesn’t say that Adam listened to the devil himself. This could, as noted, be a clue that Adam wasn’t present during any of the time his wife was tempted. However, more importantly, it continues the warning mentioned earlier.
We should never listen to anyone but God. We, our leaders, our loved ones, everyone else is human and subject to the wiles of the devil. The devil will often use those who love us, and who we love, the most; he goes around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) God is warning us, as well as Adam, not to be tempted because someone we love, or respect, or anything, has this great idea. We need to make sure the idea is along the lines of what God commands. Of course, there will be gray areas that God hasn’t said specifically – but in these areas we must still be wise stewards of our time, money, and other things that God has given us.
We must also realize that God is going to call us to account for what we have done, and that leaders – such as Adam, who was the spiritual leader – are accountable for much more, because they must take the lead. Adam, then is also chastised for not being the leader in this situation, but for following the one he should have led.
Also, God notes what Adam had said earlier. In blaming his wife, he tried to take the blame off of himself, and even off of the devil. He tried to say, in essence, “Well, this is the woman You gave me. Isn’t this Your problem?” God gives a flat out “no” to that. If we don’t use the things God gave us in the right way, it is totally our fault. Similarly, since we have God’s Word, the Bible, we must never misuse it for our selfish interests. Just because God gave us a gift doesn’t give us the right to do as we please.
Next, the Lord repeats His original warning. This is to echo what was just said – just because the one God gave him said differently, doesn’t mean that he should act differently. God’s Word was that Adam should not eat of the tree, and that was that.
Next, God points out that the curse of sin had spread. Not only was man cursed. Not only was the serpent, like all creatures, cursed. The ground itself was cursed. Sin had spread to the entire world with just that one act of defiance.
The trial of Galileo wasn’t just about science; it was political, too. However, the Catholic Church’s position during this time – that there could be no imperfections – shows that these leaders had totally abandoned the Bible, and were trying to have everything their own way. The ground had been cursed. Sin had spread everywhere. Indeed, we are told that Creation itself groans in pain until now. (Rom. 8:22) Not every Protestant Church has been perfect. They have made errors themselves, because they are people. However, if a church remains founded on the Word of God, that church will be in far less danger of problems. Because, the Bible may not say, specifically, that ‘the earth revolves around the sun.” It does, however, provide everything we need to know about living and loving others in a way that will build them up, and keep them from evil.
We don’t stay totally committed to God, because of our sin nature. Adam would have that sin nature with him the rest of his life. It would bring him sorrow.
Many people enjoy the simple life; farming, as noted above, is something that brings one closer to nature, and to God. Why, then, is it different for Adam? Because he knew where he’d come from. He’d been in Eden, and one of the consequences of his sin was that he would no longer be in that perfect world. God still loved him; but, like a Christian who sins, he lost blessing and rewards. He would sorrow the rest of his life, realizing just what he’d done, and what he’d brought into the world.
First, God doesn’t say that Adam listened to the devil himself. This could, as noted, be a clue that Adam wasn’t present during any of the time his wife was tempted. However, more importantly, it continues the warning mentioned earlier.
We should never listen to anyone but God. We, our leaders, our loved ones, everyone else is human and subject to the wiles of the devil. The devil will often use those who love us, and who we love, the most; he goes around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) God is warning us, as well as Adam, not to be tempted because someone we love, or respect, or anything, has this great idea. We need to make sure the idea is along the lines of what God commands. Of course, there will be gray areas that God hasn’t said specifically – but in these areas we must still be wise stewards of our time, money, and other things that God has given us.
We must also realize that God is going to call us to account for what we have done, and that leaders – such as Adam, who was the spiritual leader – are accountable for much more, because they must take the lead. Adam, then is also chastised for not being the leader in this situation, but for following the one he should have led.
Also, God notes what Adam had said earlier. In blaming his wife, he tried to take the blame off of himself, and even off of the devil. He tried to say, in essence, “Well, this is the woman You gave me. Isn’t this Your problem?” God gives a flat out “no” to that. If we don’t use the things God gave us in the right way, it is totally our fault. Similarly, since we have God’s Word, the Bible, we must never misuse it for our selfish interests. Just because God gave us a gift doesn’t give us the right to do as we please.
Next, the Lord repeats His original warning. This is to echo what was just said – just because the one God gave him said differently, doesn’t mean that he should act differently. God’s Word was that Adam should not eat of the tree, and that was that.
Next, God points out that the curse of sin had spread. Not only was man cursed. Not only was the serpent, like all creatures, cursed. The ground itself was cursed. Sin had spread to the entire world with just that one act of defiance.
The trial of Galileo wasn’t just about science; it was political, too. However, the Catholic Church’s position during this time – that there could be no imperfections – shows that these leaders had totally abandoned the Bible, and were trying to have everything their own way. The ground had been cursed. Sin had spread everywhere. Indeed, we are told that Creation itself groans in pain until now. (Rom. 8:22) Not every Protestant Church has been perfect. They have made errors themselves, because they are people. However, if a church remains founded on the Word of God, that church will be in far less danger of problems. Because, the Bible may not say, specifically, that ‘the earth revolves around the sun.” It does, however, provide everything we need to know about living and loving others in a way that will build them up, and keep them from evil.
We don’t stay totally committed to God, because of our sin nature. Adam would have that sin nature with him the rest of his life. It would bring him sorrow.
Many people enjoy the simple life; farming, as noted above, is something that brings one closer to nature, and to God. Why, then, is it different for Adam? Because he knew where he’d come from. He’d been in Eden, and one of the consequences of his sin was that he would no longer be in that perfect world. God still loved him; but, like a Christian who sins, he lost blessing and rewards. He would sorrow the rest of his life, realizing just what he’d done, and what he’d brought into the world.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Gen. 3:16
Notice first that the punishment is only here on earth, as with the man’s. After death, if one trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior, there is no more curse. Indeed, there is no condemnation at all to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1), but that speaks of eternal condemnation. The consequences for sin on earth must still exist. It is not just for the sins we commit that Christ had to die, but for our very sin nature, that He suffered, died, and rose victirously, having gotten the victory over death. This world has problems, but Jesus has conquered the great foe called death, and we can be conquerors of it, too, by trusting in Jesus Christ to save us. Thus, the second death has no power on Christians.
God speaks to the woman next. First, he tells her that her sorrow and conception would be greatly multiplied. This has a few different meanings.
First, since there was no pain or suffering before the fall, there would be no pain in childbirth, either. This term may refer to pregnancy in general, as well as the actual conception of a baby. This ties in with God’s promise that women would bring forth children in sorrow. Indeed, while the birth at the end is joyful, the labor pains and problems beforehand are tremendous. Oh, there might have been some discomfort from carrying a baby for nine months, but it would have just been like normal work for the man. Carrying a baby would have been as easy as caring for the garden, like Adam had been told to do in the beginning.
Add to this the problem of stillbirths and young children dying. Infant mortality rates were enormous at times, and childhood diseases claimed many lives, before modern medicine. The average life expectancy – the average age at which people died - among just the nobility in England in the mid-1300s was below 20! And they were often much better off than peasants! This doesn’t mean people only lived to that age, it means that children died so often, it totally skewed the averages. Of course, it was a little better at other times, but not out of the 20s in most places in the Middle Ages.
All this adds up to a very sobering picture. Because sin had been brought into the world, the incredible discomfort of child bearing, and the possibility that she, too, would die in childbirth, entered the world.
The possibility of death is there, too, if we take each of these statements individually. A woman’s sorrow is noteworthy, first, because of the problem of death, which entered into the world because of sin. Indeed, years later, when Cain killed Abel, Eve suffered the terrible fate of having to bury a son. It’s a fate no woman should have to face. It’s an expected part of life that parents will die before their children, after they have lived long and productive lives. Seeing one’s child sick, hurting, or dead is something no mother wants to think about.
There was another problem, too, though. Her son Cain was a murderer. Even thus became the first woman to second guess herself constantly. What had she done wrong in raising that boy? What could she have done differently? Could she have prevented it? And, how did she handle the conflict between wanting her son to get help, and yet wanting justice to be served because Abel had been killed? It is sorrow that has come upon every mother whose child is in trouble, whose child has rebelled.
Sorrow, too, over relationships was increased. Because God provided for woman to be the better nurturers (though because of sin there are vast differences at time), they also seem to care more deeply on the outside. Since your author is legally blind and has trouble reading people anyway, though, it’s hard to say how much of that is true, and how much is that men just don't' let it show, except in more hidden cues. I leave it up to those who have made great study of this part to go into this more.
Her conception was also multiplied. Even would have many children – some speculate they already had a lot by the time Cain killed Abel. But, others would also have more, because the danger of children dying so young meant more needed to be born. Of course, that tradition had continued in some areas even with modern medicine.
Whether this meant that her pregnancy was meant to only last a short time is not cler, but hat is doubtful. God could make baby humans more completely in a faster time in the womb if He chose. However, as noted above, Adam’s job was the care for the garden, anyway. Therefore, it is quite likely that this would have simply been a nine month job that, again, would have been much less work.
Next, God says that the woman’s desires shall be to thy husband. As with the above, and many verses in the Bible, this has several aspects.
First, her desires would be to please him. Simply wanting to please people, and nto God, is a problem that we all have. This is made worse when the devil – the father of lies (John 8:44) – distorts the command to honor those in authority and makes people think that people are to be placed above God. In fact, God’s Word says the opposite – we ought to obey God, rather than man. (Acts 5:29) We should obey authority in all areas that do not conflict with God’s rules. However, When God’s rules say something different from what people say, God is the one to be followed.
Great examples of this are found in the Book of Daniel. Shadrach, Mechach, and Abed-Nego, and then Daniel himself, show perfect what God expects. We should never bow down to idols. We should always pray. It’s okay for authority to say that prayer out loud at a certain place is disruptive, such as in the middle of a court session. But, nobody had the right to forbid Daniel from praying privately to God.
Because we want to please others, however, get caught in the trap of forgetting about God. This casues us to commit other sins at times, too. Most lies, for instance come out of a desire to please someone else in some way.
Those desires toward her husband also cause Eve – and all since – to have more sensual desires, too. This means men and women can be drawn away by their own desires. However, this isn’t the final point of this verse.
Not only were the woman’s desires to please the man, but this verse is often read to mean that her desires would be supplanted by his desires. This means that she would feel things she never should have had to feel.
Look back at where we talked about the problems that knowing good and eveil would cause. One of those problems was that selfish communication and desires would take the place of selfless communication. In other words, because Adam and Eve ate of the tree, they suddenly knew how to be selfish, and not care about others.
So, instead of always being the man’s soulmate, a woman now must be careful that she marry the right person. Because, if she takes someone who is not that perfect match, she might wind up in a much worse distuation. It could be with a husband who is cold and uncaring, or who has no time for the family, or something else bad. Instead of the man being the spiritual leader, the man may lead the woman down the wrong path, and the woman will be along for a very bumby ride.
This is nto to say, of course, that such a woman can’t make it trying to follow God as the spiritual leader with a husband who is absent. The Shumannite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37 is a perfect example. But, she has two huge advantages that most woman don’t. First, her husband isn’t fighting her over her suggestion to build a prophet’s chamber and serve the man of God, Elisha. Rather, her husband is apathetic. We don’t know why, but we do know wha the Bible says. God, in 2 Kings 4:8, calls her a great woman. She had the determination that not a lot of women have.
As we close the discussion on this verse, it should be noted that the Shumannite women never boasts. She also never complains about her husband’s mental absence. Instead, she gives all the credit and glory to God, and all her focus is on Him. This is where it should be for men and women. However, God wants us to have an easier life. He didn’t want the Shumannite woman to have to work that hard to serve Him. He wanted the husband to do it because he was to be the spiritual head. The wife was supposed to have it easier. Many things were made harder, however, because of Eve’s choice.
And, harsh consequences were handed down to Adam, as well.
God speaks to the woman next. First, he tells her that her sorrow and conception would be greatly multiplied. This has a few different meanings.
First, since there was no pain or suffering before the fall, there would be no pain in childbirth, either. This term may refer to pregnancy in general, as well as the actual conception of a baby. This ties in with God’s promise that women would bring forth children in sorrow. Indeed, while the birth at the end is joyful, the labor pains and problems beforehand are tremendous. Oh, there might have been some discomfort from carrying a baby for nine months, but it would have just been like normal work for the man. Carrying a baby would have been as easy as caring for the garden, like Adam had been told to do in the beginning.
Add to this the problem of stillbirths and young children dying. Infant mortality rates were enormous at times, and childhood diseases claimed many lives, before modern medicine. The average life expectancy – the average age at which people died - among just the nobility in England in the mid-1300s was below 20! And they were often much better off than peasants! This doesn’t mean people only lived to that age, it means that children died so often, it totally skewed the averages. Of course, it was a little better at other times, but not out of the 20s in most places in the Middle Ages.
All this adds up to a very sobering picture. Because sin had been brought into the world, the incredible discomfort of child bearing, and the possibility that she, too, would die in childbirth, entered the world.
The possibility of death is there, too, if we take each of these statements individually. A woman’s sorrow is noteworthy, first, because of the problem of death, which entered into the world because of sin. Indeed, years later, when Cain killed Abel, Eve suffered the terrible fate of having to bury a son. It’s a fate no woman should have to face. It’s an expected part of life that parents will die before their children, after they have lived long and productive lives. Seeing one’s child sick, hurting, or dead is something no mother wants to think about.
There was another problem, too, though. Her son Cain was a murderer. Even thus became the first woman to second guess herself constantly. What had she done wrong in raising that boy? What could she have done differently? Could she have prevented it? And, how did she handle the conflict between wanting her son to get help, and yet wanting justice to be served because Abel had been killed? It is sorrow that has come upon every mother whose child is in trouble, whose child has rebelled.
Sorrow, too, over relationships was increased. Because God provided for woman to be the better nurturers (though because of sin there are vast differences at time), they also seem to care more deeply on the outside. Since your author is legally blind and has trouble reading people anyway, though, it’s hard to say how much of that is true, and how much is that men just don't' let it show, except in more hidden cues. I leave it up to those who have made great study of this part to go into this more.
Her conception was also multiplied. Even would have many children – some speculate they already had a lot by the time Cain killed Abel. But, others would also have more, because the danger of children dying so young meant more needed to be born. Of course, that tradition had continued in some areas even with modern medicine.
Whether this meant that her pregnancy was meant to only last a short time is not cler, but hat is doubtful. God could make baby humans more completely in a faster time in the womb if He chose. However, as noted above, Adam’s job was the care for the garden, anyway. Therefore, it is quite likely that this would have simply been a nine month job that, again, would have been much less work.
Next, God says that the woman’s desires shall be to thy husband. As with the above, and many verses in the Bible, this has several aspects.
First, her desires would be to please him. Simply wanting to please people, and nto God, is a problem that we all have. This is made worse when the devil – the father of lies (John 8:44) – distorts the command to honor those in authority and makes people think that people are to be placed above God. In fact, God’s Word says the opposite – we ought to obey God, rather than man. (Acts 5:29) We should obey authority in all areas that do not conflict with God’s rules. However, When God’s rules say something different from what people say, God is the one to be followed.
Great examples of this are found in the Book of Daniel. Shadrach, Mechach, and Abed-Nego, and then Daniel himself, show perfect what God expects. We should never bow down to idols. We should always pray. It’s okay for authority to say that prayer out loud at a certain place is disruptive, such as in the middle of a court session. But, nobody had the right to forbid Daniel from praying privately to God.
Because we want to please others, however, get caught in the trap of forgetting about God. This casues us to commit other sins at times, too. Most lies, for instance come out of a desire to please someone else in some way.
Those desires toward her husband also cause Eve – and all since – to have more sensual desires, too. This means men and women can be drawn away by their own desires. However, this isn’t the final point of this verse.
Not only were the woman’s desires to please the man, but this verse is often read to mean that her desires would be supplanted by his desires. This means that she would feel things she never should have had to feel.
Look back at where we talked about the problems that knowing good and eveil would cause. One of those problems was that selfish communication and desires would take the place of selfless communication. In other words, because Adam and Eve ate of the tree, they suddenly knew how to be selfish, and not care about others.
So, instead of always being the man’s soulmate, a woman now must be careful that she marry the right person. Because, if she takes someone who is not that perfect match, she might wind up in a much worse distuation. It could be with a husband who is cold and uncaring, or who has no time for the family, or something else bad. Instead of the man being the spiritual leader, the man may lead the woman down the wrong path, and the woman will be along for a very bumby ride.
This is nto to say, of course, that such a woman can’t make it trying to follow God as the spiritual leader with a husband who is absent. The Shumannite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37 is a perfect example. But, she has two huge advantages that most woman don’t. First, her husband isn’t fighting her over her suggestion to build a prophet’s chamber and serve the man of God, Elisha. Rather, her husband is apathetic. We don’t know why, but we do know wha the Bible says. God, in 2 Kings 4:8, calls her a great woman. She had the determination that not a lot of women have.
As we close the discussion on this verse, it should be noted that the Shumannite women never boasts. She also never complains about her husband’s mental absence. Instead, she gives all the credit and glory to God, and all her focus is on Him. This is where it should be for men and women. However, God wants us to have an easier life. He didn’t want the Shumannite woman to have to work that hard to serve Him. He wanted the husband to do it because he was to be the spiritual head. The wife was supposed to have it easier. Many things were made harder, however, because of Eve’s choice.
And, harsh consequences were handed down to Adam, as well.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Some have taken the enmity in verse 15 to mean that people would be afraid of snakes – especially women. While there may be some truth to that, not all despise such creatures. Not only that, but using only this meaning robs this verse of its richness. This is the first verse with a promise from God, who can’t lie.
In speaking to the devil, God singles out the one responsible for the serpent seducing Eve. God will always get at the root of a problem. Far to often in human circles, we treat secondary causes. This isn’t just because of laziness – sometimes we don't' always understand full that there are underlying causes.
However, whether sins of omission or commission, ignoring the root cause of something is sin. The root cause of a problem is not always as black and white as humans want it to be. This is why we must always be led by the Lord, and filled with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 5:18) The Greek word “filled” here is a word which means “controlled.”
Let’s use a thief as an example. If that thief steals because he has never found Christ, he needs to find Chirst so he can stop stealing and trust in the Lord for all his needs. A person who is on that path must be gotten off of it before they begin a life of crime. But, first, that person must be shown why stealing is wrong. They may need to be shown an entirely different way of living, based on god’s Word. Just saying “don't' steal” does no good. Yes, the Israelites were told this as one of the Ten Commandments, but remember that they had seen God’s power and might. They were His chosen people. They had the society that some people don’t have. Certainly, thieves must be punished, but God’s number one purpose is to see souls saved. And, that thief may not be able to stop stealing until he is told an alternative.
Remember, Adam was given an alternative to eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, after all. He was told he could eat of every other tree. We must trust God, through the Holy Spirit, to direct us in how to approach every situation. We must realize that, as humans, we can’t do it ourselves. We don’t have perfect knowledge. We must get at the root of the problem to help a person to get rid of that sin. That’s why programs such as Reformer’s Unanimous are so important, and so successful. They help people get at the root cause of their problems.
Getting back to the verse, notice that the promise is made to put this enmity between the devil’s seed and the woman’s seed. Why isn’t this promise given to the man? Because Jesus Christ would not come from a man. The first Adam brought sin into the world. It is through the man that we all inherit that sin nature.
What, then, is the devil’s seed? It is all who follow after him. Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was in His earthly ministry, announced that very plainly when he said the Pharisees were of their father, the devil. (John 8:44) The devil is the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning, and the begetter of all things evil. His seed are all those who follow the world’s ways, ways that are the complete opposite of Christ’s.
It’s so wonderful, then, that this promise is given! Because, we all fall short of God’s perfect glory. All of us have followed that evil way at one time, because of our fleshly nature. It is only through Christ’s redemptive work that any of us can be changed on the inside, and come to know Him as our Savior. We go from being the sons of darkness to being the sons of light!
See, too, that this promise is unbreakable. God says this will happen, and when God says it, that settles it Some people have missed the promise here, perhaps because God doesn’t tell the woman this directly. But, who He tells doesn’t make it any less of a promise. God’s Word will always prevail. And, the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, would and has bruise the head of the devil.
Why the head? Because it’s the most important part of the body. The Lord dealt a death blow to death itself when He rose from the dead victoriously! Now, people don’t have to fear death. Some do, because they don’t realize that by simple faith they can go from darkness to light. By simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross, each person can become a wonderful new creation, and then grow closer to Christ’s perfect love and goodness till it’s time for the Lord to take them home.This fact was foretold right here in the Garden of Eden. It was made before God even passed judgment on Adam and Eve for their sin. Because, he wants to show mercy.
But, notice that the devil’s seed would bruise the heel of the woman’s seed. A bruise to a heel is not lasting. It causes pain and discomfort, but it heels quickly. So, too, Jesus was in the tomb for three days, then rose from the dead. Certainly, snakes nip at peoples’ heels, but not all snakes do this. Those commentators who think this is just about snakes never considered the mighty boa constrictor, which squeezes the life out of its prey. They never considered how some snakes can get up off the ground a little bit. This is clearly a reference to the devil, and how he would interact with Jesus.
But, there is one other thing it refers to. Remember, John 1:12 promises anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior has the power to become the Sons of God. They go from being the seed of the devil, to being kinfolk to Christ. The saved are no longer of the devil. And yet, he continues to nip at our heels, constantly trying to bring us down. The aches and pains caused by life are awful at times. Thankfully, to the saved person, all it is is like a bruise to the heel. Painful fro a time, but then, heeled and all better. Because theahces, pains,a nd injuries of this life are not worthy to be compared with that which is to come! (Rom. 8:18) There is constant enmity between the devil and those who have received Christ. But, one day, in heaven, that will all be over.
In speaking to the devil, God singles out the one responsible for the serpent seducing Eve. God will always get at the root of a problem. Far to often in human circles, we treat secondary causes. This isn’t just because of laziness – sometimes we don't' always understand full that there are underlying causes.
However, whether sins of omission or commission, ignoring the root cause of something is sin. The root cause of a problem is not always as black and white as humans want it to be. This is why we must always be led by the Lord, and filled with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 5:18) The Greek word “filled” here is a word which means “controlled.”
Let’s use a thief as an example. If that thief steals because he has never found Christ, he needs to find Chirst so he can stop stealing and trust in the Lord for all his needs. A person who is on that path must be gotten off of it before they begin a life of crime. But, first, that person must be shown why stealing is wrong. They may need to be shown an entirely different way of living, based on god’s Word. Just saying “don't' steal” does no good. Yes, the Israelites were told this as one of the Ten Commandments, but remember that they had seen God’s power and might. They were His chosen people. They had the society that some people don’t have. Certainly, thieves must be punished, but God’s number one purpose is to see souls saved. And, that thief may not be able to stop stealing until he is told an alternative.
Remember, Adam was given an alternative to eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, after all. He was told he could eat of every other tree. We must trust God, through the Holy Spirit, to direct us in how to approach every situation. We must realize that, as humans, we can’t do it ourselves. We don’t have perfect knowledge. We must get at the root of the problem to help a person to get rid of that sin. That’s why programs such as Reformer’s Unanimous are so important, and so successful. They help people get at the root cause of their problems.
Getting back to the verse, notice that the promise is made to put this enmity between the devil’s seed and the woman’s seed. Why isn’t this promise given to the man? Because Jesus Christ would not come from a man. The first Adam brought sin into the world. It is through the man that we all inherit that sin nature.
What, then, is the devil’s seed? It is all who follow after him. Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was in His earthly ministry, announced that very plainly when he said the Pharisees were of their father, the devil. (John 8:44) The devil is the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning, and the begetter of all things evil. His seed are all those who follow the world’s ways, ways that are the complete opposite of Christ’s.
It’s so wonderful, then, that this promise is given! Because, we all fall short of God’s perfect glory. All of us have followed that evil way at one time, because of our fleshly nature. It is only through Christ’s redemptive work that any of us can be changed on the inside, and come to know Him as our Savior. We go from being the sons of darkness to being the sons of light!
See, too, that this promise is unbreakable. God says this will happen, and when God says it, that settles it Some people have missed the promise here, perhaps because God doesn’t tell the woman this directly. But, who He tells doesn’t make it any less of a promise. God’s Word will always prevail. And, the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, would and has bruise the head of the devil.
Why the head? Because it’s the most important part of the body. The Lord dealt a death blow to death itself when He rose from the dead victoriously! Now, people don’t have to fear death. Some do, because they don’t realize that by simple faith they can go from darkness to light. By simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross, each person can become a wonderful new creation, and then grow closer to Christ’s perfect love and goodness till it’s time for the Lord to take them home.This fact was foretold right here in the Garden of Eden. It was made before God even passed judgment on Adam and Eve for their sin. Because, he wants to show mercy.
But, notice that the devil’s seed would bruise the heel of the woman’s seed. A bruise to a heel is not lasting. It causes pain and discomfort, but it heels quickly. So, too, Jesus was in the tomb for three days, then rose from the dead. Certainly, snakes nip at peoples’ heels, but not all snakes do this. Those commentators who think this is just about snakes never considered the mighty boa constrictor, which squeezes the life out of its prey. They never considered how some snakes can get up off the ground a little bit. This is clearly a reference to the devil, and how he would interact with Jesus.
But, there is one other thing it refers to. Remember, John 1:12 promises anyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior has the power to become the Sons of God. They go from being the seed of the devil, to being kinfolk to Christ. The saved are no longer of the devil. And yet, he continues to nip at our heels, constantly trying to bring us down. The aches and pains caused by life are awful at times. Thankfully, to the saved person, all it is is like a bruise to the heel. Painful fro a time, but then, heeled and all better. Because theahces, pains,a nd injuries of this life are not worthy to be compared with that which is to come! (Rom. 8:18) There is constant enmity between the devil and those who have received Christ. But, one day, in heaven, that will all be over.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Gen. 3:14
Unlike Adam and Eve, the serpent isn’t given a chance to explain. The devil had already rebelled, and been cast down. Angels were created individually, whereas we reproduce. When Jesus Christ came in flesh – 100% man, and 100% God – His death allowed all of Adam’s race to be reconciled to God, because He was human. However, angels are not part of a race, per se, like the human race. Each is separate. So, the fallen angels can’t be reconciled to God in the same way. Each would have to be reconciled to God individually. They are spiritual beings, not fleshly.
We discussed under Genesis 3:1 that the serpent was likely occupied by the devil at this point, instead of the devil being in the form of a serpent. The question then becomes, why is the serpent punished? My theory is that parts of this verse are for the devil which used the serpent, but that the serpent’s willingness to be used in this manner caused it, also, to be cursed. The serpent will indeed always eat dust, even in the Millennial Kingdom, when the devil is banished. (Isa. 65:25) The serpent is a loathsome creature, which has little redeeming value. Cattle, at least, are used for meat, milk, and as beasts of burden like the llama. It is possible that this particular type of serpent was upright, if it didn’t actually have feet.
The main thrust is against the devil, though, in the next verse. As we will see, to not consider the devil's part in the next verse is to rob God's Word of its richness.
We discussed under Genesis 3:1 that the serpent was likely occupied by the devil at this point, instead of the devil being in the form of a serpent. The question then becomes, why is the serpent punished? My theory is that parts of this verse are for the devil which used the serpent, but that the serpent’s willingness to be used in this manner caused it, also, to be cursed. The serpent will indeed always eat dust, even in the Millennial Kingdom, when the devil is banished. (Isa. 65:25) The serpent is a loathsome creature, which has little redeeming value. Cattle, at least, are used for meat, milk, and as beasts of burden like the llama. It is possible that this particular type of serpent was upright, if it didn’t actually have feet.
The main thrust is against the devil, though, in the next verse. As we will see, to not consider the devil's part in the next verse is to rob God's Word of its richness.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Gen. 3:13
This problem with communication is not just a male problem, though. God gives Eve the same chance – He lets her have the chance to accept blame. However, she refuses, too. She simply says that the serpent had done it.
Whether we blame the devil or not, however, we are still the ones who ultimately choose to sin. God understands our weakness, of course. He will always provide a means of escape, so we can bear the temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13) Sometimes that way is to flee quickly. Sometimes it is to recall Scripture – which means it requires preparation. Sometimes it is the peace that passes understanding (Php. 4:7), so we can get through tough times without giving up hope. Whatever way it is, however, we must rely on the Lord for it. Eve tried to do it all on her own, without the Lord’s help.
Whether we blame the devil or not, however, we are still the ones who ultimately choose to sin. God understands our weakness, of course. He will always provide a means of escape, so we can bear the temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13) Sometimes that way is to flee quickly. Sometimes it is to recall Scripture – which means it requires preparation. Sometimes it is the peace that passes understanding (Php. 4:7), so we can get through tough times without giving up hope. Whatever way it is, however, we must rely on the Lord for it. Eve tried to do it all on her own, without the Lord’s help.
Gen. 3:12
The woman…gave me of the tree: In this verse, we see all that is wrong with communication, relationships, and so forth; problems that have existed since sin entered into the world. Consider the following problems, and how to solve them..
First, love, without God as the centerpiece, is fleeting. His wife was bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, just a few short hours to a couple days earlier. To use a modern term, Adam was quick to “throw her under the bus,” when in fact he had just gotten done saying how she completed him perfectly. Adam, in blaming Eve, chose to forget his undying love for Eve in that moment, simply because it was convenient. The terrible evil of convenience causes so many other lusts today, as there is so much opportunity for sin. However, it has always been a problem. People choose the easy way out rather than sitting down and talking with each other.
The sat part is that this was doable. Adam and Eve had hidden together. And yet, it appears that they took no thought to consider just what had been done. They focused entirely on themselves, instead of on confessing their sins and forsaking them.
What should people do, instead of playing the blame game? Not only admitting their faults, but forsaking them. There are times when one side is totally innocent. The builty party must accept that when it happens. Such was not the case here. When both have messed up, they must be willing to confess to each other, and not put the self above the relationship. Remember the New Testament command to always esteem others better than yourself. (Philippiand 2:3) This is a command, it is necessary for parents, spouses, children, friends, employees and employers, everyone.
How does one do this? By putting on Christ; by making sure that we recognize that we are not perfect, and never can be. By always being ready to realize we can improve, we will recognize better those times when we must. It is up to each of us to take the lead in being humble. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (1 Pet 5:5)
Speaking of that necessary leadership, Adam’s actions and words show an incredible lack of it. First, he displayed a lack of leadership in allowing himself to be tempted. But, then he showed further lack of it when he refused to admit he was wrong.
As noted, the family was set up so God could bring order out of chaos. It is, of course, possible for someone else to take the lead when the man is absent physically, mentally, or both. The Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 is a prefect example. However, that leader must display the same humility that the man is supposed to display as the head of the home. Humility includes doing what’s right and quickly accepting responsibility for what is wrong, and working to make it right.
That lack of leadership shows today, too. It shows in the character of everyone who refuses to lead by example. It shows in the character of all who shirk responsibility to follow the ways of sin. And, it has been a problem since sin entered the world.
The way to correct it is to stand firm on Godly principles. This doesn’t mean to be legalist. This means to show meekness, goodness, gentleness, and all the other fruits of the Spirit. It means, first, that one must have a relationship with Jesus Christ, so he can be the true leader. Then, the person will have a firm foundation on which to build a life, a family, and everything else. A place must be found for compromise and acceptance of others if it doesn’t go against Godly principals. But, that is part of being humble, and recognizing that not everyone is the same as the leader. We all have different needs. We all have different interests and concerns.
Our number one concern should be advancing the cause of Christ, though. It’s sad that working together for a cause – even an evil cause – can bring people together. Pilate and Herod, who had hated each other, suddenly became friends after going through the trial of Jesus, in fact. (Luke 23:12) However, when confronted with one’s own faults, many people too often blame only others, without looking at their own shortcomings.
They not only blame others, they blame God at times, too. Adam specifically says this is the woman that He had given him. As if there isn’t enough blame to go around, he figures on multiplying it.
That’s the problem with blame. It multiplies so easily, which leads to more bad feelings, which leads to more blame, and so on. On the other hand, when a problem is corrected right away, with a person accepting his or her role in things and apologizing when needed, suddenly the blaming stops. There’s no place for the fire to spread when good communication has snuffed out the flame.
First, love, without God as the centerpiece, is fleeting. His wife was bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, just a few short hours to a couple days earlier. To use a modern term, Adam was quick to “throw her under the bus,” when in fact he had just gotten done saying how she completed him perfectly. Adam, in blaming Eve, chose to forget his undying love for Eve in that moment, simply because it was convenient. The terrible evil of convenience causes so many other lusts today, as there is so much opportunity for sin. However, it has always been a problem. People choose the easy way out rather than sitting down and talking with each other.
The sat part is that this was doable. Adam and Eve had hidden together. And yet, it appears that they took no thought to consider just what had been done. They focused entirely on themselves, instead of on confessing their sins and forsaking them.
What should people do, instead of playing the blame game? Not only admitting their faults, but forsaking them. There are times when one side is totally innocent. The builty party must accept that when it happens. Such was not the case here. When both have messed up, they must be willing to confess to each other, and not put the self above the relationship. Remember the New Testament command to always esteem others better than yourself. (Philippiand 2:3) This is a command, it is necessary for parents, spouses, children, friends, employees and employers, everyone.
How does one do this? By putting on Christ; by making sure that we recognize that we are not perfect, and never can be. By always being ready to realize we can improve, we will recognize better those times when we must. It is up to each of us to take the lead in being humble. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (1 Pet 5:5)
Speaking of that necessary leadership, Adam’s actions and words show an incredible lack of it. First, he displayed a lack of leadership in allowing himself to be tempted. But, then he showed further lack of it when he refused to admit he was wrong.
As noted, the family was set up so God could bring order out of chaos. It is, of course, possible for someone else to take the lead when the man is absent physically, mentally, or both. The Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 is a prefect example. However, that leader must display the same humility that the man is supposed to display as the head of the home. Humility includes doing what’s right and quickly accepting responsibility for what is wrong, and working to make it right.
That lack of leadership shows today, too. It shows in the character of everyone who refuses to lead by example. It shows in the character of all who shirk responsibility to follow the ways of sin. And, it has been a problem since sin entered the world.
The way to correct it is to stand firm on Godly principles. This doesn’t mean to be legalist. This means to show meekness, goodness, gentleness, and all the other fruits of the Spirit. It means, first, that one must have a relationship with Jesus Christ, so he can be the true leader. Then, the person will have a firm foundation on which to build a life, a family, and everything else. A place must be found for compromise and acceptance of others if it doesn’t go against Godly principals. But, that is part of being humble, and recognizing that not everyone is the same as the leader. We all have different needs. We all have different interests and concerns.
Our number one concern should be advancing the cause of Christ, though. It’s sad that working together for a cause – even an evil cause – can bring people together. Pilate and Herod, who had hated each other, suddenly became friends after going through the trial of Jesus, in fact. (Luke 23:12) However, when confronted with one’s own faults, many people too often blame only others, without looking at their own shortcomings.
They not only blame others, they blame God at times, too. Adam specifically says this is the woman that He had given him. As if there isn’t enough blame to go around, he figures on multiplying it.
That’s the problem with blame. It multiplies so easily, which leads to more bad feelings, which leads to more blame, and so on. On the other hand, when a problem is corrected right away, with a person accepting his or her role in things and apologizing when needed, suddenly the blaming stops. There’s no place for the fire to spread when good communication has snuffed out the flame.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Gen. 3:11
Who told thee that thou wast naked?: God’s question here reminds us that, no matter how far we go from God, that built-in conscience will be there. Adam tried to play the blame game, but he had to admit to himself, anyway, that nobody had told him this. Nobody had to. It was a direct result of Adam’s disobedience that he knew this fact.
God continues to work in the consciences of lost people today, pleading with them to come to know Him before it’s eternally too late. Most eveil people still have some kind of code,w hen they sit down and think about it. However, it is their own, made up code, just as Adam tried to cover his nakedness on his own.
Hast thou eaten…?: God gives us a chance. He desires mercy, and not sacrifice, and it is His own desire to show mercy, too. It is His will that none perish, but that all come to repentance. This doesn’t mean that He’ll accept sin – sin is awful. But, a repentant heart is far preferable to one that is not.
Even if God takes the life of one who sins, as a direct consequence, that person’s soul might be spared. After all, nothing can separate us from His love. Not death, not life, not angels, principalities, or powers, not things present or things to come, not life, death, or any other creature. (Romans 8:38-39) We are creatures. We can’t even separate ourselves from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is one of the most powerful versus to show the eternal security of the Christian. It’s not a license to sin. It’s a license to be free from condemnation, as there is absolutely no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1) Again, it’s that perfect love which casts out fear.
Here, God is giving Adam a chance to confess. What would have happened had he done so? Adam had already brought death into the world, and death by sin. The process of dying physically had also begun. Most likely, a prayer similar to David’s excellent prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 would have brought about the same response that God gave David. It would have been the same judgment, but God’s tone might have been kinder, and perhaps those torns and thistles wouldn’t have been as tough. It’s hard to say. Because, God knew that Adam would choose to play the blame game, as we see when we look at the following verse.
God continues to work in the consciences of lost people today, pleading with them to come to know Him before it’s eternally too late. Most eveil people still have some kind of code,w hen they sit down and think about it. However, it is their own, made up code, just as Adam tried to cover his nakedness on his own.
Hast thou eaten…?: God gives us a chance. He desires mercy, and not sacrifice, and it is His own desire to show mercy, too. It is His will that none perish, but that all come to repentance. This doesn’t mean that He’ll accept sin – sin is awful. But, a repentant heart is far preferable to one that is not.
Even if God takes the life of one who sins, as a direct consequence, that person’s soul might be spared. After all, nothing can separate us from His love. Not death, not life, not angels, principalities, or powers, not things present or things to come, not life, death, or any other creature. (Romans 8:38-39) We are creatures. We can’t even separate ourselves from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is one of the most powerful versus to show the eternal security of the Christian. It’s not a license to sin. It’s a license to be free from condemnation, as there is absolutely no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:1) Again, it’s that perfect love which casts out fear.
Here, God is giving Adam a chance to confess. What would have happened had he done so? Adam had already brought death into the world, and death by sin. The process of dying physically had also begun. Most likely, a prayer similar to David’s excellent prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 would have brought about the same response that God gave David. It would have been the same judgment, but God’s tone might have been kinder, and perhaps those torns and thistles wouldn’t have been as tough. It’s hard to say. Because, God knew that Adam would choose to play the blame game, as we see when we look at the following verse.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Gen. 3:10
As noted, Adam was afraid because God’s perfect love – which casts out fear – had departed Adam. This does not mean God stopped loving him. It means that the perfect love was not present in Adam’s heart.
Perfect love is only able to cast out fear because of the relationship involved. When a child goes to a parent during a thunderstorm, they can feel comforted because of the relationship. At times, someone else can try to suffice. A monstrous thunderstorm several years back so terrified a camper at our church camp that her counselor had to take that girl in her arms and rock her to sleep. The child eventually got to sleep, but what might have been a couple minutes in the arms of her parents took longer because – while she sensed the love and care that young lady had – it wasn’t the same as the kind of love her parents had for her.
Adam, too, had Eve, but what comfort was that? That perfect love, that peace that passes understanding, that relation with the God of all comfort, had been damaged. Something had come between Adam and the Creator. Something called sin, which God can’t come in contact with, as God is perfect goodness. If He had come in His full glory, Adam would have been destroyed. This is why, even in His earthly ministry – and those times He appeared as the Angel of the Lord, as a Theophany, in the Old Testament - Jesus Christ, who was, is, and always will be God, had to come veiled in flesh. At His Second Coming, aas Revelation 19 shows, all evil will just melt away.
God wanted to restore that relationship, but Adam had a problem. He knew now that he was naked. The fact that he knew this now showed two things.
First, he was no longer innocent. This has been sovered in depth in the discussion of the last parts of Genesis 2, especially Gen. 2:25. However, it’s interesting that Adam says this without any statement from God about it. God never tells Adam he is naked. Adam not only knows this now, but he turns to his own methods to cover himself. Instead of what God will provide later, he made a leaf to cover himself.
Second, all of this was exposed before a Holy God. He had no need to fear before this, because he had that perfect relationship. Now, he realized he was totally undone. As David said, the Lord knows our thoughts afar off. He knows all about us, and is just waiting for us to recognize our need for Him.
Of course, Adam was still close enough to his innocent state that he realized he was a sinner, in need of God’s saving grace. Later, people willrebel with no concern for what God thinks. Now, however, Adam’s mind is still young, and full of life.
The situation, then, is not unlike a child who has been caught doing something wrong. They must be treated with love, mercy, and forgiveness, as well as with justice that is appropriate for their age. If the parent is too harsh, or doesn’t show love, or does something els ehta twill led that child to be discouraged (Eph. 6:4), there will be very negative consequences. That child may not know they are loved, for instance. Of course, it’s also true that if the parent ignores sin completely, they learn to get away with more. In the same way, God had to correct this. However, He also showed mercy.
Perfect love is only able to cast out fear because of the relationship involved. When a child goes to a parent during a thunderstorm, they can feel comforted because of the relationship. At times, someone else can try to suffice. A monstrous thunderstorm several years back so terrified a camper at our church camp that her counselor had to take that girl in her arms and rock her to sleep. The child eventually got to sleep, but what might have been a couple minutes in the arms of her parents took longer because – while she sensed the love and care that young lady had – it wasn’t the same as the kind of love her parents had for her.
Adam, too, had Eve, but what comfort was that? That perfect love, that peace that passes understanding, that relation with the God of all comfort, had been damaged. Something had come between Adam and the Creator. Something called sin, which God can’t come in contact with, as God is perfect goodness. If He had come in His full glory, Adam would have been destroyed. This is why, even in His earthly ministry – and those times He appeared as the Angel of the Lord, as a Theophany, in the Old Testament - Jesus Christ, who was, is, and always will be God, had to come veiled in flesh. At His Second Coming, aas Revelation 19 shows, all evil will just melt away.
God wanted to restore that relationship, but Adam had a problem. He knew now that he was naked. The fact that he knew this now showed two things.
First, he was no longer innocent. This has been sovered in depth in the discussion of the last parts of Genesis 2, especially Gen. 2:25. However, it’s interesting that Adam says this without any statement from God about it. God never tells Adam he is naked. Adam not only knows this now, but he turns to his own methods to cover himself. Instead of what God will provide later, he made a leaf to cover himself.
Second, all of this was exposed before a Holy God. He had no need to fear before this, because he had that perfect relationship. Now, he realized he was totally undone. As David said, the Lord knows our thoughts afar off. He knows all about us, and is just waiting for us to recognize our need for Him.
Of course, Adam was still close enough to his innocent state that he realized he was a sinner, in need of God’s saving grace. Later, people willrebel with no concern for what God thinks. Now, however, Adam’s mind is still young, and full of life.
The situation, then, is not unlike a child who has been caught doing something wrong. They must be treated with love, mercy, and forgiveness, as well as with justice that is appropriate for their age. If the parent is too harsh, or doesn’t show love, or does something els ehta twill led that child to be discouraged (Eph. 6:4), there will be very negative consequences. That child may not know they are loved, for instance. Of course, it’s also true that if the parent ignores sin completely, they learn to get away with more. In the same way, God had to correct this. However, He also showed mercy.
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