Genesis 3:20-24

2006.Jul.12 22:27

Aftermath

Read Genesis 3:20-24 | Full Chapter

Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”–therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
(Genesis 3:20-24)

The first point recorded, immediately after the curse on Adam, is that he names Eve. It would appear to me that Adam named Eve after the sin, but I suppose it could be that this just seemed the appropriate time to throw a random informative note into the narrative. I’ll assume the former, with the normal proviso that I may be quite off my rocker. Genesis 2:18-20 reveals a process wherein God states that man ought not be alone, forms animals, and brings them to Adam. Adam names these animals, "but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18-20) . After this, God creates Eve, who is apparently not named at that time. This leads me to believe that Adam very much considered Eve as part of himself, and vice-versa. It is after sin, which separates them, that Eve requires a distinct proper name (by which I mean, she may well have been called “Adam” to this point; “man” and “woman” seemed to have been used to distinguish). It also reveals how sin impedes a healthy relationship–Adam no longer considers Eve a completely suitable helper; I imagine she feels similarly towards him.

The footnote to the NASB tells me that Eve means life or living and she is so named because "she was the mother of all the living" (Genesis 3:20, NASB) . Again, we see that Eve’s role as mother is directed onto her, that like Adam with his labor, freedom has removed itself from her, and she is now bound to a role, which, while it has joyful aspects, also contains great pain.

In the next event recorded here, Jehovah, aware of Eve and Adam’s shame at their nakedness–which would have been the revealing result of their sin, had Jehovah not already been aware–makes for them garments of skin to replace their fig leaves. As Jehovah shows in the curse on Adam, the world is no longer a friendly place. Fig leaves may cover their shame, but it won’t protect the humans against the elements. Physical layers of separation are about to become commonplace, reflecting the emotional separation brought by sin.

The clothing and name given, Jehovah turns to the issue of the trees. There were two special trees in garden, that of the knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life. Now that Adam and Eve have eaten of the tree of knowledge, God does not want them to eat of the tree of life, lest they attain eternal life through it rather than repentance, and consider themselves equal to and adversarial against Jehovah. Therefore, God sends Adam out (assumedly Eve also) and places a guard around the tree of life. I assume this business is mostly symbolic, that God is actively showing Adam and Eve that death is the result of their sin. And now to survive even a little while requires physical labor.

And the question that must now follow them is whether this knowledge, this understanding of acting against God, was worth it. Sure, I can’t see a situation in which they would not have taken from the fruit, but having taken, they might now become repentant. We all sin, we do. But can we lay down our godhood, repent, and follow Jehovah’s path to returning to his presence? Can I accept the sacrifice of the spotless lamb Jesus, admitting my complete dependence on God?

Genesis 3:16

2006.Jun.29 20:22

Curse B

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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.