Eve

Eve … the First Lady of the Bible. Mention of her appears numerous times in the good book – four times named (Using the King James Version - Genesis 3:20; Genesis 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3 and 1 Timothy 2:13). However, she is not named until after she falls for temptation.

Genesis (KJV) 1:27

 

“So God created man in his own image … male and female …”

One may pause as the Bible states that man … both male and female were both created, leading us at first to imagine both being formed at the same time. But in the next chapter, it dives deeper by explaining how the female was created from Adam's rib. It’s important to remember that the first chapter of Genesis is a brief summary of what God did.

Genesis (KJV) 2:22 – 25

“[22] and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. [23] And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. [24] Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. [25] And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”

Enter the Serpent …

Genesis (KJV) 3:1

“[1] Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

“[2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden,

“[3] but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

“[4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

“[5] for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

“ [6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

“[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”

She gives in to the temptation to eat of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Why not? The fruit looked and smelled delicious. Plus it would give her wisdom, but she quickly learned that she had messed up. She lost her childlike innocence and was now able to see “like an adult".

Eve gets a bum rap as being the first to sin, which I'm certain she regretted and constantly asked forgiveness for. She learned the hard way of the consequences of disobeying God. Don’t we all though …

But let's also remember that she is also the very first mother.

Genesis (KJV) 4:1

“[1] And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.”

Can you imagine how scared she was? The only one to guide her would have been God. Let's put ourselves in her shoes – the very first time she felt Cain kick … the birthing pains … the actual birthing process which includes exposure to Adam's nervousness (and we all know how our husband's were! LOL) I imagine/believe that God had to help her figure out a lot about raising the first baby. She felt the very first mother's love for the very first baby.

Putting aside our knowledge that her first baby commits the first evil act of murder, she did not know that at his birth or during his raising. When one focuses on just the first birth … before the sin … one can think of how Eve and Mary felt – both scared and embarking on the first human birth and the first immaculate birth. Neither were prepared for the heartache to come as they watched over their adult sons. I believe that their faith and trust in God helped them.

Our own children give us trials and tribulations whether via their own doing or the world against them. Truth be told - we're all guilty of giving our parents trouble! No matter what any parent says, all kids will test you at one time or another. Nobody is perfect … except Jesus.

God has unconditional love for us. So we must try to have unconditional love as well … for everyone.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your unconditional love. Help us to have the same for those we need to forgive. May we remember that we need forgiveness from those that we have wronged as well. We can't control that part, but we can control how we act or react.

May you bless all who read this.

Amen

Blessings,

Josephine

Note:

The scriptures that Eve is mentioned or referred to:

Genesis 1:27; 2:22 – 25; 3 (all): 4:1 – 2; 4:25

1 Corinthians 11:9; 15:45

2 Corinthians 11:3 (This chapter truly relates to current times and false preachers!)

1 Timothy 2:13 – 15