"The Prototypical Mom"
Genesis 3:6-21
Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Introduction: You cannot speak of the life of Eve without using the word complicated. She is very complicated (and things haven't changed much for her gender.) She is the matriarchal head of the human race. All of us have her genes, her DNA, her blood coursing through our veins. Eve's story is our story. As the first woman and the first mother she represents so many things, not just to women and mothers but to all mankind. Her story is a story of temptation, tears, tragedy and triumph. This morning for Mother's Day I want us to examine four aspects of Eve's life and experience that I believe will challenge and hopefully change all of us.
I. Her Sin
Fundamentally when we think about Eve we think of her failure to obey God. Her relationship with God was based on truth and trust, His truth and her trusting His word. Eve was given a choice. She had options so to speak just like all of us have options. We can obey the voice of God or we can choose to disobey. Unfortunately for Eve she chooses the latter of the two options and she failed. Her choice had far reaching implications as we all know. Her relationships were changed from that moment forward. God had given her a great gift and at the same time a terrible gift. The gift of free moral agency is a wonderful gift if used rightly but the failure to use this gift wisely has terrible consequences. I read this quote from -- Mother Teresa
"I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much."
Every mom/parent struggles with their failures as an example. Often the mistakes of a parent show up in ripples in their children's lives. We can cause a cascading chain of events that can span generations.
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;
The curse is for 3 or four generations but the blessing is for a thousand:
But here is some really good news: The right kinds of decisions can have even longer lasting ripple impact for God and for good!
Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
We have all felt the sting and pain of our failures. When a marriage breaks up, when our children don't turn out the way we had planned, or you've failed in some other area of life, the good news is, when we are at our worst, God is at His best and we will see that as we examine the Biblical record.
GOD'S PREPARING YOU FOR GREAT THINGS
SOME believe that they have been unfairly treated by circumstances in life.
Consider my high school friend. At the age of 19, he found himself as the leader of a camping trip with a group of young teens. One of those teens drowned in a lake about an hour's hike from civilization. My friend was in charge, and needless to say, he was devastated to the point of hopeless despair.
He called his father, hoping to find some comfort. Like his 19 year old son, the father understood the despair of the family over this loss of life. He understood that this was a life changing moment for his son, along with the potential consequences and trouble that might lie ahead. But rather than join the son in fear and despair, he said to him, "Well, son, there are two ways of looking at this. Either this is a tragedy from which you will never recover, or this is God's indication to you that He has some very great things that He wants to do in your life, and this is the only way that He can prepare you for those things."
The son's perspective on his tragedy changed. That young man indeed went on to great things for God, and fulfilled areas of service and ministry at a very young age that would normally have been reserved for an older man.
The second thing about Eve that I want us to look at is what is said about her "seed" in 3:15.
II. Her Seed
After God pronounces a curse on the serpent (Satan), God says something that may not seem important in terms of how it effects Eve personally but it is a prophecy that has eternal consequences. Let's examine the text:
Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and her offspring (seed); he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." ESV
I want to share something with you that is more important than we can even imagine. In this verse we have a description of the "enmity" or antagonism between Satan's offspring and the offspring of the woman (Eve). When you examine the syntax of these phrases you will find that Hebrew word Satan's "seed" is plural and the Hebrew word for the woman's "seed" is singular. Why is this important? It is important because of what the Devil's offspring does to the offspring of the woman and vice versa. Humanly speaking Satan and his minions (offspring/seed) will torment, torture and seek to destroy the (offspring/seed) of the woman and the (offspring/seed) of the woman will wound the head (the place where the venom is on a serpent) on the Satan. Essentially the woman's seed will neutralize the venom of the serpent. What is the significance of this whole scenario? Satan and all his forces will seek to destroy the woman's seed but the woman's seed will ultimately vanquish the Serpent (Satan.) The woman's seed can be traced from Eve to her son Seth, to Abraham's seed Isaac, to David's seed Solomon, from generation to generation until Jesus would be born to Mary who was of the house of David.
Galations 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Romans 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Luke 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
III. Her Sentence
Now we come to the part of this message that is sobering and revealing at the same time. Listen to what the Lord tells Eve.
Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Sin has forever changed the direction and the destiny of the human family but for Eve it was much more personal than that. God says that her life would change in two areas. First, in the area of reproduction and then in the area of relationships, her children and her companion. There is not a man in this building that knows what I am about to say so fellows you get a pass of this, at least for now.
ILL - A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.
¯ Washington Irving
ILL - No man is poor who has a Godly mother.
¯ Abraham Lincoln
ILL - My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
¯ George Washington
There is something special between a mother and her child/children. She carries that child in her womb for nine months before it ever sees the light of day. She experiences physical, emotional and I would say spiritual sensations that are unique to her. For Eve child bearing is a mixture of pleasure and pain. It is so contradictory. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. Someone said that, "Every woman who gives birth to a child enters into the "valley of the shadow." And in a figurative sense that is true. That's why child birth is such an awesome thing. I would also remind you that Eve is the first mother to lose a child and to make it even worse this loss of her child is compounded by the fact that not only does she lose Abel but she also loses Cain for he is banished and it is likely that she never sees him again. The second area of change for Eve was in her relationship with her husband Adam. Several things are mentioned:
"...and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." What does this mean? Well without going into a great deal of detail let me say that it is the first example of a husband blaming his mistakes on his wife and the wife thinking that her husband is a jerk! This is a scenario that is repeated constantly today! Seriously, the curse that God pronounces on Eve and her family is still with us today in so many areas of relationship. Finally, I would not want to tell you "All About Eve" without reminding you again that when Eve was at her worst God was at His best. Even in the midst of the temptations, troubles, tears and tragedy there is grace and hope.
IV. Her Salvation
Do you remember what Adam and Eve did when God came looking for them after they had sinned? We find a record of their behavior is verse 7.
Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
In verse 21 we have God's answer to their efforts to cover their nakedness:
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
What is so important about this? First, their own efforts to cover themselves were considered insufficient by God.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Second, God provided what they could not do for themselves.
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Third, blood was shed to provide this "covering" for the guilty pair. A price was paid to provide this covering.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
God went beyond covering our sin; He provided cleansing for our sins!
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Conclusion: I started this message by talking about the options that Eve had in her life. She chose to disobey God in the first circumstance but when she has a choice about continuing to live with her "fig leaf fashions" or to receive the covering provided by God to her credit she chooses to accept what God provides. This is a wonderful picture of salvation. Thanks to this decision we can expect to her in heaven if we know her "seed" who is Jesus as our own personal Savior. Do you know Him today? Even though you have sinned and disobeyed God there is grace and hope for you, just as there was for Eve. Eve is in heaven, will you be there? Will your loved ones who know Jesus be reunited with you in heaven?
