Genesis 3:16

2006.Jun.29 20:22

Curse B

Read Genesis 3:16 | Full Chapter

To the woman He said,
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will (A)bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.”
(Genesis 3:16, NASB)

Jehovah says that woman’s pain in childbirth will be multiplied greatly. First, this may imply that childbirth would be painful anyway, which is very interesting, but now it becomes an particularly powerful pain. Childbirth is used in the Bible, to represent great pain or agony, and often associated with a feeling of helplessness in constrast to a perceived power. For example: "The king of Babylon has heard the report about them [a people from the north], And his hands hang limp; Distress has gripped him, Agony like a woman in childbirth" (Jeremiah 50:43, NASB) . How does such a wonderful thing as giving birth become a simple of the worst gut-wrenching feelings we can have? That’s the curse. That which is beautiful is made ugly. That moment in which we could be like Jehovah, giving birth to new life, is despised. Why’s abortion such a big debate (and it’s not a new thing)? I’d guess it’s because of this paradox, this curse.

There’s another issue with this childbirth and husband-clinging thing, particularly related to gender roles. Up to the point of the sin, it’s not necessary that Eve have children. It is sin which forces Eve into the gender role of “mother”, in order for the human species to survive on this Earth. If “femininity” is connected with motherhood–and I have no doubt that it is–the moment of sin turns Eve from a person with a choice–will she have children–to a person whose roles are defined for her. If the inherent choice for Adam is whether to desire a helpmete, for Eve it is whether to give birth. Jehovah makes Eve’s choice uglier but more clear. She must have children or the species dies. Childbirth will be super painful. She will allow her husband to rule over her (because she now believes she must have children?). It’s almost haunting how God must have picked these curses, must have known that millenia later we would divide ourselves between those who can give birth and those who cannot, without realizing that this was never intending to be a dividing rod between us, but a joyful illustration of how two can become one, can share in abilities and friendship; it became a painful division when we as a species chose to die.

I want to note how these roles are due, at least in part, to a curse. Some Christians seem to think because these roles seem to them “natural”, that is how God intended it. While he made it part of his plan (and the plan brings a lot of ugly things into this world), it was the part of the plan that brought curses onto humanity when we separated ourselves from God in order to humble us–much of these roles, and the separations caused by them, are not what God wants for us, but are rather part of his punishment on us. At least, all that is what I find myself believing more and more. Again, I realize I’m making a lot of assumptions, and again, much of this has been my thoughts, and while I pray and believe that God is increasing my understanding and wisdom, I certainly concede that some of these points may be way off.

In any event, I am amazed (I suppose I should expect it) how the decisions made by the first humans affect our cultures today. Jehovah’s ability to understand and work with this is awesome. I know he’s all-powerful, all-knowing, etc, but I am amazed. More awesome is that he is willing to work us through our sinful nature and all the times we hurt him, with much patience and love, so that we might return to walk by his side.