Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded

the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat of it’: ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake” (Genesis 3:17). Scripture is its own best interpreter, and in the thorns and thistles of verse 18 we see from Jesus parable of the weeds and the wheat, that is was an enemy (Satan) that sowed the weeds. It was “while man slept” that this happened (Matthew 13:24. 25).  I'm reminded of the saying “in order for evil to triumph, all that needs to happen is that good men do nothing.” Adam was essentially asleep  when he just “let her slide,” took the “easy” way out, and “heeded the voice of his wife.” There is a spirit of slumber, and it involves spiritual eyes that don't see,  and spiritual ears that don't hear (Romans 11:8). It describe the Church in the West that has not “watched and prayed” (Mark 13:33).

Other translations of this morning's verse have “because of you,” rather than “for your sake.” Both are possible from the Hebrew, illustrating the difficulty of translation.  “Because of you,” is purely punitive, while “for your sake,” indicates a redemptive aspect of the sentence. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7), and the pain and the sorrow are designed to lead us to repentance. That the redemptive version is the correct one,  is born out in Romans 8:20 which reads “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope.” If it is just punishment, there is no hope, but it was subjected in hope! Ultimately Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, but I am getting ahead of myself!

Unlike Adam,  God takes responsibility for the curse, and for allowing the tempter access to creation.  Perhaps there was  conversation in heaven of God with the Devil that was similar to that where God allowed Satan to test Job (Job 1, 2). But in any case, with  Adam's sin, the door was opened up for the war in heaven to be transferred to earth, and the Devil cast down here (Revelation 12:7, 9).  Adam's formerly had dominion (1:26), but with the fall it is  given to the enemy, the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).

From henceforth the struggle between good and evil will show up in every aspect of life. Bringing forth life, be it physical or spiritual will involve pain and sorrow, but also joy. Thorns and thistles will grow up apparently spontaneously among seed sown on good ground.  Satisfaction in labour will only come by “the sweat of your brow,” and the struggle will be “all the days of your life.” Finally at the end of the day,  you will die (2:17; 3:19).  Evolution can describe this struggle, but it has no explanation for it. There is both something good and beautiful about creation, but there is also something broken. Only  the Bible has an explanation for  this reality (1:31; 3:17).

Father, we can either see life without hope as in “life sucks and then you die,” or we can embrace  redemption and hope through the frustration. Creation declares the glory of God and speaks to us clearly of Your eternal power and Godhead; so that we are without excuse (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20). Help us who know You Lord to live as living parables of Your hope in Jesus Name Amen