The blessings of God on Adam and Eve
We read in Genesis 1:28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (KJV)
When God created Adam and Eve, He spoke words of blessing on them, and it was those words that bequeathed them with the authority to rule over all that God had created. The authority to rule came from the words that God declared over them, and they were able to execute it in their lives.
To explain this authority that was bestowed on Adam and Eve let us consider some examples from our day to day lives. In general, when a person is appointed to an office, for any post, they will be required to sign a joining report, to endorse their appointment for that post. However, when it is person who is a political head of a state or country, the rules are different. They are required to take an oath, at a swearing in ceremony, where their words will ratify the position that they are being conferred upon. Once they are sworn in, they become the head of a particular department. Therefore, for instance, though the police department or armed forces on their own may be powerful and have loads of weaponry at their disposal, none of it can be used unless the person who has acquired the post as head of that department, issues them with the orders to do so. The elected leader receives the authority by way of announcement by a superior, and on the basis of that word he can now exercise his authority over those under him.
Another good example is that of a man and woman who come to the altar for marriage. They both come in singly as man and woman, but by the powers invested in the pastor, he pronounces them husband and wife, which immediately changes their status from that point onwards from being single to being married.
We must understand that what the world considers blessings, are contradictory to the blessings that God longs to bestow on us. In a worldly sense people consider a big house, worldly possessions and other material goods as blessings. In reality, the true blessings of God are the divine words that God pronounces on us, which explicitly describe the way we ought to live. If we can comprehend that God is the one who actually blesses us, we will be able to receive these blessings as God intends for us, and live accordingly. It is only when we receive the word of God in this manner, will we be able to live out the blessings that God intends to lavish on us.
This is also the reason why we must be cautious about the words that are spoken to us, and those that we declare to others, for those words will become reality. When a person is a ruler or one in authority, the implication is that because of their position, when they speak, it is obligatory for those under them to obey their orders. So also the word of God transforms us to be those people of authority, but in order to experience that, we must first understand and obey God’s word as instructed to us.
God cursed the serpent
In Genesis 3:14 we read, “So the LORD God said to the snake, "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all the wild or domestic animals.” (GW)
The reason the Lord cursed the snake, was because it cunningly ensnared Eve with all its lies and deception. Adam and Eve were in close communion and fellowship with God in the beautiful Garden of Eden. Adam was bestowed with the authority to rule over all that was in the Garden with just the word of his mouth, and God was with him. It was because the serpent messed up this wonderful relationship that Adam and Eve had with God that He declared to the serpent, that it would be cursed more than any other animal that God had created.
God’s original purpose for creating Adam and Eve in His likeness and image was that they might enjoy and experience the rule, peace and joy of God in their lives. When Adam and Eve were in perfect communion with God, the evil scheme of Satan was to destroy that joyful union.
There are some people who also take pleasure in destroying the harmony and unity that other’s enjoy. The desire and purpose of God for mankind is that they would live in wholeness, and oneness with each other. We must be aware that it is always the scheme of the evil one to bring division and disharmony. Sometimes when there is a misunderstanding between a husband and wife, there are those who advice wrongly that they stay away from each other for a brief period, which often leads to a permanent separation later. God’s command is clear in His word that those He has joined together in marriage, no one should separate. Therefore, when someone gives advice that is contradictory to the word of God, one should be extremely cautious to not accept such advice, as the source of such counsel is the devil.
If Satan found his way into the Garden of Eden, it is no big task for him to lure his way into any family, church or relationship, and it is our duty to guard our borders against his attack. The serpent knew that Eve was vulnerable and that is why he schemed, and slyly tempted her. If we are not watchful keeping guard over the boundaries of our families, we too will find outsiders stepping in, feigning concern, and will mislead us with their ungodly advice. We should be discreet to not give advice where not needed or not asked for. It is also important that we be prudent to not give any counsel that would cause division in a family or among the fellowship of God’s people.
All that the serpent did was to engage Eve in a conversation, and what seemed like a harmless discourse, led to a grave mistake. The very power of words that God had empowered man with to rule and reign, had now become a snare that trapped both Adam and Eve.
When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, though it was Eve who was first deceived by the serpent, God called out to Adam to find out where he was, and did not call Eve. This was because God held Adam accountable for what happened that day. This reminds us that God is a God of order, and if there is indiscipline and deceit we must understand that it surely originates from the devil.
When we read Genesis 3:14, we observe that God did not curse Adam and Eve, but He cursed the serpent. The reason for this is that God was so indignant with the serpent because he hindered the perfect plan and purpose of God that was being beautifully fulfilled through Adam and Eve. God was enraged with the serpent for being instrumental in sabotaging the perfect design and will of God that He aspired for Adam and Eve.
We will understand this further when we read about this in Matthew 18:6-7, "If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea. How terrible for the world that there are things that make people lose their faith! Such things will always happen---but how terrible for the one who causes them! (GNT)
Jesus is clear-cut in his teaching in the above mentioned verses, that if anyone should be instrumental in obstructing the growth of someone who is growing in their faith, they should be dealt with severely, as they are working contrary to the fulfilment of God’s will for that person’s life.
When Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit to eat of it, God could have prevented them from doing so. But, He did not because God has endowed man with wisdom to choose between right and wrong. They fell into sin only because they did not use that wisdom God had bestowed on them, but rather listened to the ill-advice of the serpent.
There are those who have stopped attending church, and their premise is that they love Jesus, but don’t like to fellowship with other Christians, probably because someone hampered their faith walk. We must be wise to pay attention only to those who give us sound and godly advice, for many have entertained faulty counsel, and have backslidden in their faith.
The punishment the Lord metes for someone who impedes the spiritual growth of another, is that a millstone be hung around his neck, and he be drowned in the depths of the sea. It seems like the Lord wants it hung around the neck, so that there would be no room for any more words of ill-advice from such a person. Jesus was strongly suggesting that it would be far better for such a person to die, rather than that they be instrumental in causing someone to fall away from the faith.
That is also why the Lord cursed the snake saying that it would eat dust and slither on its belly, because it was responsible for obstructing and destroying God’s divine plan in the lives of Adam and Eve. Many people wrongly think that blessing and curses originate with the Mosaic Law, but in reality it began in the Garden of Eden. By cursing the serpent, God made it very clear that anyone who prevented the purposes of God from being duly fulfilled, are in danger of being the recipients of God’s curse.
May we never be those who hinder the faith of anyone who is growing in their walk with God and sincerely seeking after Him, for like the serpent, the punishment on such a person will be far greater.
God’s commands Balaam to bless
We read in Numbers 22:12, “God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them, and do not put a curse on the people of Israel, because they have my blessing." (GNB)
The people of Israel were a blessed people, who were blessed by God Himself. That is why when the King of Moab requested Balaam to curse the people of Israel, the Lord instructed him otherwise and commanded him to not so, as they were a people blessed by God. God had gifted Balaam with the authority to bless and curse which was why God stopped him from cursing the people of Israel for He knew that if Balaam cursed them, they would become recipients of his curse.
The curse pronounced by Joshua
In Joshua 6:26, we read, “At that time Joshua pronounced this curse: "The LORD will curse whoever comes to rebuild the city of Jericho. It will cost him his firstborn son to lay the foundation. It will cost him his youngest son to set up the city doors." (GW)
When Joshua destroyed the city of Jericho and brought down its walls, the above mentioned verse is the curse that he pronounced on the city, so that no one would ever try to rebuild its ruins.
The fulfilment of the curse – around 500 years later
We read in 1 Kings 16:34, “In Ahab's time Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho. Laying the foundation cost him his firstborn son, Abiram. Setting up the city doors cost him his youngest son, Segub. The LORD had spoken this through Joshua, son of Nun.” (GW)
When Hiel tried to rebuild Jericho almost 500 years later, he was aware of the curse that Joshua had pronounced over the city of Jericho. However, when Hiel went ahead and laid the foundations of Jericho, he got word that his first son Abiram died, and for no obvious reason. Having lost his first son, Hiel still did not give up, but continued with the hardness of his heart and as he advanced with the work and tried to set up the city doors, he got word that his youngest son Segub died. This was the exact fulfilment of the curse that Joshua had declared over Jericho.
There are curses that come down from one generation to the next. If we are cautious and take heed, with God’s intervention we can be victorious over them. However, if we continue in ignorance, Satan can overcome us. God’s word will never change or fail. To those who seek Him, his favor rests for a thousand generations, but when we put anything or anyone else in his stead, the curse of God will follow to the third and fourth generation of those who do so. Often when things transpire according to the word of God, many try to downplay God’s punishment and its effects on our lives, by citing some natural causes as the reason for such maladies. When God gives a warning it is far wiser to heed it and repent, instead of hardening our hearts and turning ourselves into objects of God’s wrath.
Elisha cursed the boys
In the Old Testament we observe that God had gifted some with the authority to bless or curse, and whatever they said actualized as it was graced on them by God Himself. When the prophet Elisha, was jeered at by some boys, he turned around and cursed them. The outcome was serious, when two bears from the forest came out and mauled 42 of them. This was because Elisha had the power to do so, as God had entrusted him with that authority.
The Lord taught Aaron and his sons to bless
We read in Numbers 6: 22-27, “The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you will bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD will bless you and watch over you. The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you. The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.’ “So whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them.” (GW)
This is how Aaron and his sons were taught to bless the children of Israel. This authority to bless the people was given to them by God. In the above mentioned blessing that the Lord commanded them to pronounce over the people, thrice the word ‘The Lord’ is repeated; “The LORD will bless you and watch over you. The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you. The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.” In verse 27, the Lord told them further that this was the way they were to speak “His name” over the Israelites in order for them to be blessed, for only then they were assured of God’s blessings.
We read in Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” (KJV)
The word ‘one’ in Hebrew is ‘echad’ which is a composite one. An example for a composite one is ‘one day’, which has morning, noon and evening in it. Our God is a triune God. He is manifested as Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, all of the three signifying the ‘one’ God.
This is also the reason why though ‘The Lord’ is mentioned thrice in Deuteronomy 6:22-26, verse 27 sums it up beautifully when the Lord asked Aaron and his sons to us “His name” to bless the people of Israel as God is one, though revealed as Triune God.
Paul’s blessing to the Corinthian Church
In 2 Corinthians 13:14, we read, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (ESV)
These are the words of Paul as he blessed the church at Corinth. This is the benediction that is also pronounced on the church in many places today. There are three important aspects to this blessing. The first is the grace of the Lord Jesus that saved us and freed us from every sin and bondage to sin, which is the starting point of our faith walk. The second part is the love of God the Father which can be experienced, only when we accept the gift of God’s grace lavished on us through Jesus Christ. No one can go to the Father except through the son. It is only the grace of God that leads us to the Father, who is most holy and cannot be approached if not for the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross of Calvary. Thirdly, in order to live this Christian life we need the power and filling of the Holy Spirit. Since our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it is paramount for us to have the communion and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
There was no clear revelation of the Triune God in the Old Testament. This revelation came about only in the New Testament, and that is why Paul beautifully pronounces this blessing of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit on the church at Corinth. The grace of the Lord Jesus that saved us so that we can become recipients of the amazing love of God the Father who created heaven and earth. Having been transformed we have communion with the blessed Holy Spirit. What man lost in the Garden of Eden, God lovingly restored to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. God has gifted some with the authority to speak words of blessings and curse, and it was this charge that enabled Paul to bless the church at Corinth.
Let us be reminded that when we continue in obedience to God and His word we become partakers of His blessing, and likewise when we walk away in rebellion and disobedience we become objects of God’s curse.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
