Genesis 3d Commentary

Genesis 3d Commentary

“You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.” Verse 14b. You cannot avoid thinking about the original blessing. The same blessing was repeated to Noah.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish …, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Chapter 1 verse 26. And,

“The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, …, on every creature that moves along the ground, …” Chapter 9  verse 2.

Humanity’s authority over “creatures that move along the ground” can be an interesting study! Again, you cannot avoid thinking about the serpent and the serpents.

The question of why the LORD God allowed the serpent in the Garden is partly answered by the original blessing. Satan could only show up as a serpent, moving on the ground and subject to the rule of humanity. Check the original blessing. The LORD God had taken care of satan through the structures of authority. Even when he showed up, he could only negotiate!

After the fall, the Creator God “called them all to the office” for disciplinary procedures. Yes, “them all” includes the serpent. If we die, it’s because the Creator God ordains it; the serpent has nothing to do with decisions like this. But the serpent is all about lies and more lies. He wants to appear bigger than himself.

Nothing has changed. The battle of Eden is an obedience test – Obedience or disobedience. It boils down to this simple exam.

The Creator God orders humility while satan has pride, arrogance, and selfishness on the shelf. Buy it, if you will. There is persuasion and deception but never force. It boils down to obedience. The saint fights the battle with tools of obedience: “It is written”.

Craftiness means the serpent finds his way to Adam through Even. She is believable. She is the weakest link. But salvation comes through the same weak link; her offspring defeats the serpent. The serpent didn’t see it coming. The battle wasn’t over yet!

The gospel is underlined by the woman’s seed who shows up and defeats the serpent – Revelation calls him the Lamb of God. The serpent’s weapon is temptation and deception… the seed’s weapon is obedience to the Father’s word. The Father’s written word.

Warfare is reduced to obedience. Then verbal declarations can follow; declarations of victory! Ponder.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam lost; in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Last Adam won. Don’t forget how he won it; “Let your will be done”. And his life was on the line! Ponder.

More resources visit http://www.lovingscripture.com