(or, “Look Backward to see Forward”)

I finished reading that book I told you about last week (“Good Book” by David Plotz) and I still recommend it if you want to be challenged in your thinking. As I mentioned before, Mister Plotz approached the Bible (the O.T., specifically) with two biases I don’t share: an uncertainty whether God is sovereign and a skepticism about whether there was (or will be) a messiah.

As I dug back into the book of Genesis, I was reminded of another profound difference between how I approach the Bible and how he did.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (ESV)

I admit this bias: I approach the Bible assuming it’s a God-driven, unified whole. The author of the book I read—like many people around us right here in Dumas—regarded the Bible as a good book, an inspiring book, and even a historically and spiritually significant book. But he also assumed that it had been written by a slew of unknown people well after the times of the facts recorded.

For instance, while I have always been taught—and most conservative, evangelical theologians believe as well—that Moses was the primary author of the first five books of the Bible (except, of course, the part where he dies, which was probably written down by Joshua), some scholars believe those five books—the Pentateuch—was written after the time of David by some Jewish historians who did nothing more than turn ancient legends into a readable narrative.

Similarly, they believe most of the other Old Testament books were written long after the fact and books like Proverbs (Solomon) and Psalms (mostly David) and Daniel (guess!) were not written by who we think.

Why is this important and what does it have to do with Genesis? I said last week that, if you can believe the first verse of Genesis, nothing else should give you trouble (as to belief, anyway; we still have a hard time living it!). On the other hand, if we start throwing out portions of Scripture, how do we decide what to keep? If there’s something in the Old or New Testament that we don’t like, why not just proclaim that it was man-driven and, therefore, not binding on us?

See, I believe that what’s in the Bible is true not because it’s in the Bible, but because I believe the Bible to have come from the source of all truth. I believe the Bible to be the most accurate representation of how the world actually is.

I want us to look back through some of the highlights (or “low-lights”) of the Story of the Fall and see not only how these points are important to the rest of Scripture, but how they are important to us.

Genesis 3:6
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. (MSG)

Imagine that you’re an author and you’ve decided to undertake a story about a civilization that rebels against God. I can picture a military leader who stages a coup, flying his ships into heaven itself. Or, how about one muscled-up rogue who stands up on a mountain top and flings lightning back up into the sky? Maybe a subversive whisper campaign that eats into the hearts of the populace until they no longer believe?

Or, how about a couple of people in a garden who eat some fruit?

The smallest sin can wreak the greatest havoc

Just as sin started with one act (rebellion against God), it can only be defeated in one way: the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 26:28
This is my blood, God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins. (MSG)

Genesis 3:8
When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. (MSG)

We cannot hide our sins from God

When I read that part about Adam and Eve hiding, I can’t help but think, “How stupid!”

Luke 8:17
For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. (ESV)

It’s better to flee to God when we sin than to try and run from him (remember Jonah?).

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)

“Catharsis is the only remedy for the burden of guilt.” –CC Crawford

Now, what led Adam and Eve to sin? The devil was certainly an agent, but how did he do it? By appealing to self.

God MUST be first

Genesis 3:16
To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." (ESV)

That verse doesn’t go over well in our modern world, does it? But, there’s something I want you to think about, in relation to all of what we’ve seen in Genesis so far and even some popular notions that get thrown around. Some people want to blame Eve. Even more people read that verse and start throwing around charges about the Bible being sexist.

Think about it, though: God kept Adam and Eve together. Eve is not unimportant here—like some servant-chattel. Adam is not complete without his wife!! Eve is not complete without her husband. (Am I saying that single men and women are incomplete? No! The Apostle Paul praised the virtues of being single. But while all women owe something to their First Mother Eve, they are not carbon copies of her. See, Eve was the perfect match. She was MADE for Adam and he has a divine appointment with her.)

Genesis 3:17-18
And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.” (ESV)

What’s the REAL Curse?

Adam and Eve were put in the garden and told to tend it. But it’s only after sin that work becomes a curse!

The ideal consequence of any punishment is improved behavior. God didn’t make the ground hard for the sake of cruelty, but for our sake. We don’t get to eat without thinking of the hard work that went into the meal.

But wait! Here’s some good news!!

Some Real Good News!!

Revelation 22:3
And there will be no more curse: and the high seat of God and of the Lamb will be there; and his servants will be worshipping him; (BBE)

Just as we have the curse presented early in the book, here at the end (of this unified whole, remember?) we have a promise of a day when the curse will be lifted. That makes me think that there will be something to do in heaven. We’re not just going to be sitting around on clouds with nothing to do. But the work will no longer be toil. It will be a part of the paradise we’ve looked forward to!

What do I DO with this?

Rejoice! I saw a T-shirt that was meant to be humorously depressing: “If you think your job is bad, remember: eventually you die.” For a Christian, that could be good news! Someday, our work—all work!—will be a joy!