Was reading Genesis this morning, starting reading the Swedish version to give a different perspective. Naturally came to chapter three and the fall account which speaks of Adam & Eve's sin. As all males we know that Adam naturally blames Eve for their sin and Eve in turn blames the serpent. Once again a classical example of how man avoids shame through the blame game.
What is interesting about this scripture is the consequences that each part receives for their sin. The serpent is firstly told that he will crawl on his belly and eat dust and be scorned for the rest of his days. In addition it is prophesied that woman's offspring will eventually crush the head of the serpent speaking of Jesus and the victory He won on Calvary. Whilst this may sound fair enough, it is what is not spoken about the serpent which springs to mind.
The serpent either had other forms of transport rather than crawling on his belly, whether it be wings, legs or some strange design that we have not seen and it was not God's intention that he be an object of scorn. This point I find particularly interesting when it comes to the workings of Satan amongst those who are held captive by him. People who are in bondage of sin are often as result objects of scorn by society and those around them. Assuming of cause they are found in their sin which many are not and in today's society we make many excuses for sin and allow some whilst disallowing others. In addition we have a habit of grading sin, white lies are of no consequence whilst murder deserves death in some countries. Yet the Father calls all sin equal, irrespective of how we view it. Naturally the Lord has called all men to live and walk in righteousness before Him and the only way for any of us to do this is to be covered by God's grace and love which comes via the shed blood of Jesus.
The Man is told that he shall produce fruit by the sweat of his brow. Put simply man was never meant to produce through toil or difficulty. The earth neither was meant to produce thistles and thorns nor any of those things which we know are a farmers nightmare. Rather man was to simply live off the provision of the Father's garden and all it produced. This to me speaks of what I call a "Holy Ease" that is not striving and struggling for what the Lord has promised to us. As sons of God we know that we have access to all that the Father owns and according to scripture he owns "the cattle on a thousand hills" speaking of his limitless supply. Zec 4:6 is a scripture we all know so well and naturally gives us an understanding of how the Father can bring the fruit and results that we all want and desire in our lives.
The Woman, was told that she would give birth in pain, no longer would she be pain free whilst bringing forth the fruit of their relationship but would understand, I believe, the same pain the Father has in bringing forth his own children. Anyone who has started or pioneered any work will understand the time and effort it takes to see these things birthed. Not by any means do I say I understand what it is to give birth in the naturally but certainly understand in the spiritual. However, it was never God's intention that woman would have this experience but must have been in some way a painless experience. It is however through the pangs of birth that we truly understand the joy of creation and all mothers will tell you the pain quickly is forgotten when they hold their child for the first time and feel it's breath on their face.
Both Man and Woman where then exiled from the garden so that they would not have access to eternal life. Scripture goes on to speak of how the Father provided them with skin covering, some believe the first blood offering for sin ever exampled in the word of God, giving us an example and pattern which would be followed throughout time. This then shows us that God's intention was that we would have normal access to eternal life nor would we ever need from the beginning to bring a blood sacrifice for our sin. And though we can easily say how we have fallen, the Father knew the outcomes before they happened and made a way possible back to this original plan by sending His son Jesus to us. And scripture tells us that "He would that none should perish, but all would have eternal life" as John 3:16 explains.
Though there are consequences of sin, Jesus is the answer to all!
God Bless
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