Genesis 3:17-24

January 2, 2013 The serpent caused Adam and his wife to sin, so God cursed him above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life (3:15). The man and the woman were also to suffer sins consequences: the woman is promised sorrow in childbirth
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And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Two things happen here: first, Adam loses his rest. Weve already talked about rest as its used in the Scripture, how God created everything and then He rested, the Israelites had a Sabbath every week, they werent supposed to till the ground once every seven years, slaves were to be set free in the seventh year, and so on. The idea is that there was rest, and that somehow it was lost, and now weve got all these types and shadows pointing towards its restoration. Well, what we read here in chapter three is the somehow. Adam goes from tending the garden to tilling the ground and from eating of the fruit of the trees to striving in sweat just to get his food. The second thing we see here is that God makes good on His promise. Apparently, you shall surely die. Even though men strive all day under the hot sun just to survive, they still die. And what a statement this is regarding our spiritual nature. It doesnt matter how hard we work, we have no life. Now think about some other verses that go along with these points: Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you (Jn. 6:27). The food earned by our sweat cant give us life (the food itself doesnt even last), but there is a bread which lasts forever and gives real life. Dont we see that Manna came down from heaven (Ex. 16) and Jesus is the Bread of Life (Jn. 6:35)? Is it coincidence that theres a supper at the wedding of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9)? How about Lazarus and the rich man (Lk. 16:19-25)? There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate,

full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abrahams bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Or how about Psalm 73: Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. 20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. 21Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. What a contrast we see, and what great hope we have in the gospel. The curse of the ground is a good reminder that we have no enduring life apart from Christ and

that this world isnt our home. And so, we look forward in hope to the day Hes appointed. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Mt. 5:6), and Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (Is. 55:2).
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And Adam called his wifes name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. This is the first time shes given this name. Up until now shes been helpmeet or woman. This stands in sharp contrast to the promise of death, and it connects to the promise in verse 15. To call his wife the mother of all living shows Adams faith in Gods promise. Just as Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead (Heb. 11:19), so Adam hears the promise of a redeemer (3:15), and immediately hopes. Though he were dead, yet shall he live (Jn. 11:25).
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Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Why werent their fig leaves good enough? Why didnt God make them something out of wool or cotton? Why coats of skins? A couple of things I see here are, first, this is a type of the sacrifice to come. I guess Im presuming, but I understand that God slew an animal to make these coatssomething had to die to cover their nakedness. And this is exactly what Christ has done for us. Our sin cost Him His life. The second thing I see here is that God made the coats. Does this not speak to our covering of righteousness in Christ? Our righteous acts are as filthy rags, butI will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations (Is. 61:10-11). Do you remember Zechariahs vision? He saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even theLORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the

angel. 4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments (Zech. 3:1-5). Not only that, but think about the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22: And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few are chosen (:11-14). Adam and Eves fig leaves, Joshuas filthy clothes, the wedding guests garments: none of these were good enough. The only thing that suffices is the covering from Christ. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. The Godhead decrees that the man and his wife should leave the garden. I dont think that the trees actually have ability to give knowledge or life. I do believe that their literal, but theyre also symbolic. When Adam broke Gods command and ate from the tree of knowledge it symbolized his rebellion. To eat from the tree of life doesnt actually impart life, but its symbolic of life in Christ. If you think Im going too far with it, consider how much value God assigns to symbols all throughout the Scriptures: the Ark of the Covenant, the veil, the Holy of Holies, Baptism, the Lords Supperall types and shadows yet considered sacred. Adam could not eat from that tree because he was cut off from life and alienated from God! But there is hope: And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4And
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they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever (Rev. 22:1-5). http://newgracebaptist.blogspot.com/