How to have a bad day

 August 12, 2020 (Wednesday)

 

What were the results of the Fall? Sometimes they are referred to as the “curse.” Since this virus has been ravaging the world population since January 10 (the WHO official start date), it’s not hard to believe in a “curse.”

 

So what changed? First, the changes the effected the woman. “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” [Genesis 3:16 ESV] It is important to notice the NATURE of God’s design has been corrupted. This perversion causes problems for all of creation.

 

It’s interesting that God used the word “multiply” when discussing pain of childbearing. We tend to think Adam and Eve only had children AFTER the Fall and the Curse. But the idea of “multiply” must have had a point of reference or it would have been a meaningless descriptor. Even the idea of childbearing would have been beyond understanding without previous knowledge, possibly experience.

 

The second thing with Eve’s problem with pain in childbearing hits the act of being a mother, in general, would be painful. Labor would be painful, but the mother’s heart would always be vulnerable to the pain a child could inflict emotionally. Personal pain, motherly pain, and finally marital pain.

 

The next thing Eve must endure is conflict with Adam. Thus, the tension between men and women is kicked off. The NLT translates the gist, “And you will desire to control your husband.” Other translations run along the lines of, “You will desire your husband.” This may reflect back to when Adam did not help or protect Eve when Satan was tricking her.

 

The kicker is the man would rule over the woman. This is the battered, broken, and bruised result of sin. It was not God’s intention. It was not God’s design. This conflict, battle, or war comes from selfish action. It’s not an edict to be adhered too. It’s not the way God wants it to be. It’s the monster we create with sin.

 

Adam is given his set of problems, due to sin. The ground is cursed. Producing fruit will be a result of painful toil (see Genesis 3:17). Adam is told, “It will grow thorns and thistles for you.” [Genesis 3:18:a NLT] At this point, I wonder if the nature of creation itself changed. Did viruses exist in the Garden of Eden? Why are there misquotes? At this point, God is promising a difficult existence complicated by fruitless and painful elements.

 

Finally, Adam is sentenced to death. “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” [Genesis 3:19 ESV] Between birth (pain) and death, there is pain in work. There is a weary fruitlessness.

 

King Solomon expressed it this way, “Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.” [Ecclesiastes 9:9 NIV] And it gets worse….

 

“He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” [Genesis 3:24 ESV]

 

Have a nice day. (Stay tuned, there’s good news coming.)