God next made coasts of skin, and clothed them. There are several interesting points to make concerning this.
First, despite what some commentators say, this appears to be a theophany. That is, a preincarnate (before the virgin birth) appearance of God in bodily form.
Normally, a theophany is called “the angel of the Lord.” Here, though, Moses has just spent an entire chapter discussing the Fall, and God’s reaction to it. It would not have the same power had Moses used “the angel of the Lord” before this, and it would be confusing if he were to suddenly switch to that term here.
So, was it Jesus, in preincarnate form, before? That is less certain. We know that God came down in “the cool of the day,” but He could have come down just as He looked down upon Sodom to see how great their sin was. He could have easily spoken in an audible voice from heaven when correcting Adam and Eve, just as speaks from Heaven at other times, and those to whom His words are not directed merely hear thunder, such as Paul’s Damascus Road experience.
Int his verse, He does something only possible with physical hands, barring some divine miracle. And, the beauty of the Genesis account is that it is so simple – too simple for many, as God has used the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. (1 Cor. 1:27) it is too filled with awe and wonder for the humanist, and for the pagan, has none of the really flashy and confusing things. The story of Creation is very simple – God made, man sinned, God promised a redeemer. It is much more plausible that God would simply come to Earth, in preincarnate form, and make these coasts.
. The beauty and simplicity lets us see our promised Redeemer work. Thousands of years before He took our sins away for good - through His death on the cross and resurrection - He covered the sins of the first man and woman. Their first realization of sin was nakedness. Now, the reminder of God’s blessing would be with them through clothing. It was not sinful for them, as husband and wife to see each other naked. But, the very fact they knew that concept showed that sinful, carnal nature was there.
We see, then, that God Himself covered their sin. It was the shedding of blood that caused that to happen. We don’t know if it was a lamb, but I believe it was. It carries the same symbolism as would come down through history. All the lambs slain from the beginning pointed to the ultimate sacrifice, when Jesus, the Lamb of God, died to pay the sin debt for the world. He didn’t just cover our sins, He washed them away.
This shedding of blood became known as the only proper sacrifice, a picture of how they were to give to God. The Lord would later inspire Moses to write that the life of a thing is in its blood (Lev. 17:11), and the author of Hebrews to write that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. (Heb. 9:22)
But, every single one of those sacrifices, starting with this lamb could only cover. Jesus, however, took it all away, so it would be on us no more. Hallelujah!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Gen. 3:20
Adam’s world had been turned upside-down like nobody else’s could have been. And yet, he chose to consider the life that could come. Indeed, many writers believe that this name, Eve,” was a step of faith. Many say it points to Adam’s believe that this promised Redeemer would come from the womb of Eve.
Adam had named her before, of course. The name “woman” was descriptive – she was bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. But, it was still a name. The description remained, but the name changed, just as it does elsewhere in Scripture. A change had been made in their relationship, of course – they would no longer have it perfect. There would be problems between them now, which they would have to overcome. However, another change had come, too. Eve was now the “mother of all living.” Whether this was stated by Adam, or a commentary by Moses, it shows a certainty that many would come forth from her. A large group, known as the human race, emerged. And, in the end, the promised Redeemer came, too, so all who came to Him could have eternal life. Because, Jesus Christ was God in flesh, born of a woman.
Adam had named her before, of course. The name “woman” was descriptive – she was bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. But, it was still a name. The description remained, but the name changed, just as it does elsewhere in Scripture. A change had been made in their relationship, of course – they would no longer have it perfect. There would be problems between them now, which they would have to overcome. However, another change had come, too. Eve was now the “mother of all living.” Whether this was stated by Adam, or a commentary by Moses, it shows a certainty that many would come forth from her. A large group, known as the human race, emerged. And, in the end, the promised Redeemer came, too, so all who came to Him could have eternal life. Because, Jesus Christ was God in flesh, born of a woman.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Gen. 3:19
That toil and sweat of the brow from our work comes at us just as it came at Adam. This verse points to more than just the thorns and thistles of work. It points to the fact that will be so evident later on. Eternal rewards are the only ones worth earning.
Consider Adam’s situation. He learns that he will have to work much harder to get any yield from the land now. He will do this in sorrow his whole life, realizing what once was. Yes, he would be able to get the herb of the field eventually. But, even when he did, it would seem so fruitless to him at times. The toil and sweat of his brow would make labor so tiring. And, after all that labor, what would he get? A physical body that would grow old, decay, and die.
God knew this. He didn’t want Adam to be surprised. He wanted him to be forewarned. He doesn’t always tell us every consequence of wrong actions. However, He tells us the important ones in His Word. The fact that Adam would have to toil and sweat now wasn’t mentioned specifically. It was, instead, a part of that warning back in Gen. 2:17 that he would surely die. This is because that phrase, literally translated, says, “dying, you will die.” In other words, the process of death would begin right away, and that process would continue until, at long last, Adam returned to dust. This verse, then, is telling Adam just how that would happen.
Of course, some work is more joyful than others. When Paul Harvey, the great radio commentator, passed away, there was a clip of him stating something to the effect that he’d never “worked” a day in his life. It was always so much fun.
That, however, is an element of God’s grace. It shows that God, in His perfect love, has created each of us with interests that, if we hone them, will grow into lifelong work that we’ll love. We’ll love it because God has matched us to that work. Paul Harvey still worked, of course. But, he had found that one specific thing which he could do that brought him pleasure. This is not a sign of salvation per se; plenty of saved people toil in unhappy situations, and plenty of unsaved love their jobs. What it means is that God loves us, and it’s one of the ways He shows that love to us. There is always that reminder – through how we age – that our bodies are but dust. However, he provides us with grace, so we can have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
So, why didn’t God give Adam a job like He gave Paul Harvey, one where Adam could say that he “never worked a day in his life?” He might have. Adam’s attitude may have changed to where he grew to love farming. We don’t really know much about Adam’s life, unlike later Bible figures, except that he and his wife had numerous sons and daughters (Gen. 5:4), and that he died at 930 years. Perhaps he said with satisfaction, like King David, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken.” (Ps. 37:25) However, even if he was pleased with what he did, and enjoyed it a lot, he would come to realize something else very important.
That other important thing is the last part of that verse. He would return to the ground. Even if he was the greatest farmer, the greatest inventor, or whatever, it would all be for naught. Yes, Adam could receive God’s forgiveness. He would then have the certainty of that promise of a Redeemer. However, that would be for the hereafter. The only thing remembered on earth would be that he’d lived. Whatever he cultivated, all the things he had done in this life, would be treasures on earth. Ones that moth and rust can corrupt, and thieves can break forth and steal. (Matt. 6:19) He would not be taking it with him into the next life. That frail, physical body would simply return to the dust.
It is, therefore, vital that we lay up treasures in Heaven, where they can’t grow old or be stolen. (Matt. 6:20) This verse applies just as much to us as it does to Adam. We, too, have physical bodies that will return to the ground. However, we also have that promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He longs for us to turn to Him. He longs for us to be born again, through what He did for us on the cross, dying and rising from the dead. And, then, He longs for us to build those treasures iN heaven, so we don’t have to be empty-handed when we approach the throne of God. We can have crowns to lay at His feet. We can have wonderful, eternal blessings that go beyond this world, into eternity.
Consider Adam’s situation. He learns that he will have to work much harder to get any yield from the land now. He will do this in sorrow his whole life, realizing what once was. Yes, he would be able to get the herb of the field eventually. But, even when he did, it would seem so fruitless to him at times. The toil and sweat of his brow would make labor so tiring. And, after all that labor, what would he get? A physical body that would grow old, decay, and die.
God knew this. He didn’t want Adam to be surprised. He wanted him to be forewarned. He doesn’t always tell us every consequence of wrong actions. However, He tells us the important ones in His Word. The fact that Adam would have to toil and sweat now wasn’t mentioned specifically. It was, instead, a part of that warning back in Gen. 2:17 that he would surely die. This is because that phrase, literally translated, says, “dying, you will die.” In other words, the process of death would begin right away, and that process would continue until, at long last, Adam returned to dust. This verse, then, is telling Adam just how that would happen.
Of course, some work is more joyful than others. When Paul Harvey, the great radio commentator, passed away, there was a clip of him stating something to the effect that he’d never “worked” a day in his life. It was always so much fun.
That, however, is an element of God’s grace. It shows that God, in His perfect love, has created each of us with interests that, if we hone them, will grow into lifelong work that we’ll love. We’ll love it because God has matched us to that work. Paul Harvey still worked, of course. But, he had found that one specific thing which he could do that brought him pleasure. This is not a sign of salvation per se; plenty of saved people toil in unhappy situations, and plenty of unsaved love their jobs. What it means is that God loves us, and it’s one of the ways He shows that love to us. There is always that reminder – through how we age – that our bodies are but dust. However, he provides us with grace, so we can have life, and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
So, why didn’t God give Adam a job like He gave Paul Harvey, one where Adam could say that he “never worked a day in his life?” He might have. Adam’s attitude may have changed to where he grew to love farming. We don’t really know much about Adam’s life, unlike later Bible figures, except that he and his wife had numerous sons and daughters (Gen. 5:4), and that he died at 930 years. Perhaps he said with satisfaction, like King David, “I have never seen the righteous forsaken.” (Ps. 37:25) However, even if he was pleased with what he did, and enjoyed it a lot, he would come to realize something else very important.
That other important thing is the last part of that verse. He would return to the ground. Even if he was the greatest farmer, the greatest inventor, or whatever, it would all be for naught. Yes, Adam could receive God’s forgiveness. He would then have the certainty of that promise of a Redeemer. However, that would be for the hereafter. The only thing remembered on earth would be that he’d lived. Whatever he cultivated, all the things he had done in this life, would be treasures on earth. Ones that moth and rust can corrupt, and thieves can break forth and steal. (Matt. 6:19) He would not be taking it with him into the next life. That frail, physical body would simply return to the dust.
It is, therefore, vital that we lay up treasures in Heaven, where they can’t grow old or be stolen. (Matt. 6:20) This verse applies just as much to us as it does to Adam. We, too, have physical bodies that will return to the ground. However, we also have that promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He longs for us to turn to Him. He longs for us to be born again, through what He did for us on the cross, dying and rising from the dead. And, then, He longs for us to build those treasures iN heaven, so we don’t have to be empty-handed when we approach the throne of God. We can have crowns to lay at His feet. We can have wonderful, eternal blessings that go beyond this world, into eternity.
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