relationships (Genesis 3:14-19) Consequences of Sin On Our Relationships

(Genesis 3:14-19)

The Lord God said to the serpent,

     “Because you have done this,
     Cursed are you more than all cattle,
     And more than every beast of the field;
     On your belly you will go,
     And dust you will eat
     All the days of your life;
15 And I will put enmity 
     Between you and the woman,
     And between your seed and her seed;
     He shall bruise you on the head,
     And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
16 To the woman He said,
     “I will greatly multiply 
     Your pain in childbirth,
     In pain you will bring forth children;
     Yet your desire will be for your husband,
     And he will rule over you.”

17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;

     Cursed is the ground because of you;

     In toil you will eat of it 
     All the days of your life.

18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
     And you will eat the plants of the field;

19 By the sweat of your face 
     You will eat bread,
     Till you return to the ground,
     Because from it you were taken;
     For you are dust,

     And to dust you shall return.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION: 

There is a lot of information in these few verses, so bear with me.  In the verses leading up to this, the Lord had asked Adam and Eve why they were naked in order to give them a chance to confess.  But they didn't.  First, they tried to hide their sin, and then they tried to pass the blame onto someone else for their sin.  But God is not only omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, He is holy, righteous and just, therefore He will deliver fair punishment and consequences.

Besides childbirth pain, a consequence for Eve and all women is the struggle - the battle - between the sexes.  Because Eve led the way to sin and then somehow influenced Adam into joining her, husbands would now have authority over their wives.  Husbands "ruling over" wives is a consequence of sin - NOT a directive for husbands to boss their wives around!  There are many Bible verses that teach men how to actually treat their wives.  Remember, we are intended to be a team, and we are one flesh.  Therefore, a man is to treat his wife as he would want to be treated!  As well, "husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her...!" (Ephesians 5:25)

Another consequence for the woman is that she will desire her husband.  Doesn't sound so bad, but put that together with the man's consequence of now having to work hard to make ends meet!  This equals a very possible tension in the marital relationship.  How many times have I heard wives complain about how much their husbands work, and how much they want them to be at home with them, and to help them out.  Although often, it is these same wives who are also whining about not getting flowers, gifts, more money for shopping, more "me" time... But if one wants all these things, their husbands will only have to work even harder and longer.  

We cannot have it both ways.  Another option is to be content with what we have so that we might have more time with each other, while realizing that we all do need to work hard to support each other.  Teamwork doesn't always mean that everything is done collaboratively.  Understand!  Most times we have to divide and conquer!  Someone is working hard in this location while another person is working hard in another location.  So, learn to work, and work around schedules, and make it work!  We should do everything in God's strength, love and wisdom, in order to support and encourage each other so that we can experience contentment, patience and understanding.

As well, notice that it says there will be toil "all the days of your life".  So really, nowhere in that scenario is there any leisurely retirement.  It's great if it happens (kind of), but we shouldn't be shocked if it doesn't.  Do some people get off easy?  Yes.  But the majority of us have to work hard until we die.

The consequences for Satan also effects Israel, as Satan's hatred for God includes anyone who is connected to God.  The term "seed" means descendant or descendants.  Out of Eve would come the Israelites.  And out of the Jews, the Lord Jesus Christ would be born in flesh, so He could be one hundred percent man while still being one hundred percent God.  Even before creation, God knew mankind would sin, and that He would have to come to earth in flesh to accomplish His work on the cross.  Satan didn't and doesn't want any of this, which is why Satan tried to kill Jesus many times, until he thought he had succeeded.  But (of course) three days after being crucified, Jesus rose from the dead to have victory over sin and death.

Remember, another consequence for sin is not just a spiritual death (a separation from God at birth) but also a physical death.  Our bodies will return to dust.  But as we have already read in previous verses, we have been created with souls intended for God to fill.  It is only through Jesus' salvation that we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit who fills us and seals us for eternity.   

This is why Satan will do whatever he can to prevent people from going to the Lord for salvation and help.  This is why Satan will do whatever he can to destroy, distort, disrupt and divide, and that includes our relationships with God, with other Christians, and family members!  We cannot blame Satan, and sometimes he isn't even involved, very often it is just our sinful nature deciding to sin!  No matter what, the only way to combat our weak flesh and any demonic attacks on our relationships is to persevere and grow in our relationship with the Lord!