Genesis 3:14-19
Categories: Bible Study LessonsGOD PRONOUNCES SENTENCE
This account is designed to impress upon the children of men the fact that when God warns of punishment such warning is to be heeded. Man sinned in the Garden. God now declares the penalty for that sin.
To The Serpent
Remember that the one sentenced is the Devil or Satan (Rev. 12:9; 20:2). We may speculate all our days about the significance of crawling in the dust as punishment but we are not left to speculate about the final end of Satan. He will be defeated (“he shall bruise your head”) by the seed of the woman (Gal. 4:4). In Genesis 3:15 the first shadow of the Gospel is revealed, that there is one coming that will defeat Satan (Rev. 20:10). Beginning here this theme is developed until it is realized in Jesus Christ.
To The Woman
Notice that the Lord didn’t accept her claim of deception as a mitigating factor. The special facets of her punishment would be in the very functions for which she was created (Genesis 1:28; 2:20). She would now bear children in pain and be subject to her husband.
To The Man
His excuses weren’t heeded either. The same ground from which Adam was made is now cursed because of his sin. The agony of labor is now added to Adam’s existence. He must work for what he eats.
Lessons
God didn’t accept claims of deception or of influence in the Garden. We should not expect that God will accept these factors at Judgment.
It has been thousands of years since the carrying out of this sentence. God still hasn’t lifted it. His decisions are permanent. GOD’S WORD IS FINAL.