EVE-Mother of all the living

Genesis 3:20

Eve was the first woman, wife and mother.  She was not born and had no father or mother.  She was created from Adam’s rib.  She was flesh of Adam’s flesh and bone of his bones and they became one flesh. The serpent deceived her and she ate from the tree that was forbidden by God to be eaten.  It appealed to her to be good to eat, it was delightful and to be desired.  Sin entered the world.

Father, how could I have taken and eaten from the very tree that You told us not to eat from?  It changed our lives drastically and not for the better.  We were living in a peaceful, tranquil state.  I did not need to worry about anything.  There were no sicknesses, diseases or troubles.  You created us and You were our everything.  We could freely eat from every tree of the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Then this serpent came and enticed me into thinking that something was missing from my life.  I saw that tree and thought well the food looks good to eat and it was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  He said that my eyes would be opened and I will be like You, God, knowing good and evil, so I took and ate and even gave some to Adam. 

From that moment on our eyes were opened.  What a mistake!  For the first time we saw our nakedness. I tried to cover us up and we were so ashamed we hid, when we heard You walking in the garden. 

Even in our disobedience You still loved us.  You made clothes for us to wear and You took us out of the garden so that we would not eat of the tree of life, so that we would not live forever in our disobedience to You. 

Lord You are our Redeemer.  You are the One who rescues us from our sins.  Lord You are gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  Lord You are good to all and Your tender mercies are over all Your works.  Amen

Every Friday we meet for prayer and would love to have you join us.  We meet at 9:00am EST.  It is a time of prayer and fellowship.

 

 

Throughout time and throughout the world, the story of Eve is known. Eve was a very special part of God’s creation for she was created to be the ultimate partner and helpmate to Adam. 

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭

Adam and Eve were perfect partners and they were provided an amazing Earthly life. They were given everything they needed in the lush Garden of Eden and they enjoyed an intimate relationship with their Creator. They were loved by their Creator who wanted only the best for them. 

Perhaps when you read of her transgression you may wonder how could she have wanted more? Why did she doubt Her Creator? Why did she desire to be more than she was created to be?   

Whatever the reasons, I imagine that she fully regretted her foolish choices. She was the first to sin and suffer the consequences of sin. Not only was she removed from the Garden and God’s presence there but she also had to watch her sin impact all of mankind. Because of the first sin, we are all born with a sinful nature. As women, we also share in the consequences of being a woman in a fallen world:

“To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”” Genesis‬ ‭3:16‬ 

As disappointed and heartbroken as God was with Eve’s transgression, however, His love for her did not change. Her actions brought spiritual death but God’s love for humanity was so great that He was willing to provide a redemptive plan. Satan may have scored a small victory through tempting Eve but Eve was promised that through her seed, Satan would ultimately be defeated. He warned Satan:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”” Genesis‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That promise, the promise of a Savior, was made to redeem not only the sin of Adam and Eve but every sin that separates us from God as well. 

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭

God gave Eve instructions and choices. God gives us instructions and choices as well. Love is not something forced. It is always a choice. Satan knows how to tempt us and he tries to deceive us just as He did Eve in the garden so long ago. Because of our sinful nature we are born enslaved to sin and spiritually dead. But, because of Jesus and His redemptive sacrifice that pays the price of our sins, we share in all the promises that come with accepting Him as our Savior. We all have a chance to one day know the wonder of Heaven and being restored to an eternity spent in the presence of our Creator. 

For Reflection:

Do you sometimes doubt God’s intentions and goodness? 

Do you ever feel like God’s instructions limit you from something you desire?

Do you notice that the consequences of your sins impact the lives of others?

Do you share in the promises of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Redeemer? 

Eve is found in Genesis 2-3

 

Hi Girls!!

 I’m so excited to be back studying with you and I pray you are as well!! It has been my prayer from the beginning to come to know each of these women and you like family, for that is what we are, family!

 That being said, I feel I need to begin my post with a few misconceptions I discovered during my study on Eve:

1. Eve is often linked to the beginnings of sin in the earliest mentions of her outside the Bible; however she is not called a sinner in Genesis 3. (I added the link here for you to go check all these facts out for yourself.) Eve and Adam, both disobeyed God no doubt, but the word, sin doesn’t appear in the Bible until the story of Cain and Abel.
2. It’s often suggested that Eve tempts or seduces Adam, but in reality she merely took a piece of fruit—not an apple mind you—and handed it to Adam. Both had been warned not to eat of this particular fruit, yet they both did take a bite and ate it.
3. It’s also important to note that Eve bit into the fruit first, thereby negating the theory that Eve was merely submitting to her husband.
4. Finally, some believe God cursed both Eve and Adam, yet the text speaks only of cursing the serpent and the ground.

Pretty neat, huh? God’s word continues to amaze me, for no matter how many times I study it, I am always learning something new!

What I most want you to take away from this study today is that – our actions come with consequences, and sometimes those consequences can reach far into the future; impacting our children and grandchildren. (Deuteronomy 5:9)

 

Welcome to Scripture Saturday! 

It is the first Saturday of our study of Old Testament Women! I am so excited to begin our scripture memorizing journey together!

Here at WitW we know the importance of memorizing scripture...

1. God's word instructs us to memorize scripture. (Colossians 3:16)

2. Memorizing scripture provides us with guidance and wisdom. (Psalm 119:105)

3. Memorizing scripture can keep us from sin and temptation. (Psalm 119:9-11)

4. Memorizing scripture helps us know the truth and can keep us from error. (Matt 22:29)

5. Memorizing scripture is our weapon against spiritual attacks. (Eph 6:13-17)

6. Memorizing scripture helps us explain the hope we have in us to others. (1 Peter 3:15)

7. Memorizing scripture increases our faith. (Romans 10:17)

(R. Sang, 2018)

So for these very reasons we will begin each week with a verse (or two) to meditate upon and memorize. It is my hope and prayer that the verse(s) chosen each week will prepare your heart for our study and will allow you to draw from His word when you need it the most.  

Our verse for this week is John 1:16..."For from His fullness we all have received, grace upon grace."

Throughout Scripture, God's grace is most beautifully evident within His judgements. In Eve's story, after He speaks to Eve about the consequence of her choice, God makes a promise to her and her future generations...you are 'the mother of all human beings' (Gen 3:20). So, although there was a consequence for the choice she made, her hope returned because one day her seed would crush the serpent.

So through Eve we learn that though there may be a consequence for something you have done against the One who loves you most, and as you are asking for His forgiveness, remember what His love also brings...grace upon grace.

Have a blessed week everyone!

Sandra