We’re in Genesis one through three today – essential truths to understanding the rest of Scripture!

If you skim through Genesis chapter one, the very first words in the Bible, what does the emphasis seem to be on? Let me point out some repetition:
1“…God created…”
3“Then God said…
4“And God saw…and God divided…”
5“God called…”
6“God said…”
7“Thus God made…”
8“And God called…”
9“Then God said…”
10“And God called…God saw…”
11“Then God said…God saw…”

We could go on, but that’s surely sufficient! Who is in existence at this time? GOD. He’s the only one. Do you think it would have caused any confusion whatsoever if Moses had used a personal pronoun here or there? (When I describe my morning, for example, do I say, “AG played with blocks. And then AG was bored. And then AG said, “Is it snack time?” And AG thought the crackers were good.”) Why the repetition over and over and over?

Because He is the point. It’s all about God.

The other obvious repetition throughout that passage is the power of His Word. It’s God saying, calling, making (by His word)… His Word is powerful. It is trustworthy. When He says something it happens!

Now look at Genesis 1:26-28. We’re going to introduce here the idea of a “scepter” – a sign of power and authority, and the right to rule. Figuratively speaking, God the Creator hands man a scepter in this passage. God created man and woman and now tells them to rule over His creation as his “viceroys.” God rules, through man, over creation.

Now, flip over to Genesis 3, which is the well-known account of the fall of Adam and Eve. What exactly does Satan cause Eve to doubt?
God’s WORD.

“Did God really say… You will not surely die…” Eve, did God really say that? Did He mean that? Is what God said would happen really going to happen? He first questions and then outright denies the validity of God’s word!

And thus begins the rest of history. God speaking, and man doubting (often blatantly ignoring and denying) the word of God. Did God say that? Did He mean that? Is that really going to happen? YES – God’s Word is powerful and trustworthy! I won’t go into detail with the effects of the fall in this post [we'll get into this more in Ecclesiastes], but yes, what God said would happen does. Man and woman experience a very real spiritual death and separation from God. They will experience physical death. Life will be difficult and toilsome and frustrating. And one more thing…

…they’ve lost the scepter.

The “domain” that man and woman once had full authority over will now rebel constantly against them. They will plant corn or roses or apple trees, and even after toiling and sweating and blistering their hands in the work, they will get weeds and bugs and decay. Animals that once would have submitted completely to Adam and Eve’s rightful rule are in rebellion and will attack them or flee from them or eat that corn they worked so hard to grow. They will experience conflict in their marriage as the proper roles and authority of the man and woman are challenged. The scepter is gone.

But there is a glimmer of hope!

After God tells them all about the frustrating life and ultimate death ahead of them, Adam chooses that moment to turn to his wife and name her (see 3:20). Doesn’t that seem like weird timing? If you look back in 3:15, Adam knew what God was telling them. As God was pronouncing His curse on the serpent, He says these words, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.“

Adam understood that this was a promise- one day, all would be set right. One day, one of their children or children’s children, the promised Seed of the woman, would have the ultimate victory. This Seed would crush the serpent (Satan) on the head (a fatal blow), while the Seed himself (Jesus) would be struck on the heel (a “flesh wound”) and the scepter would be returned.

He knew it would happen – God said it would. God’s word is trustworthy.

So, Adam’s response in 3:20 isn’t weird timing at all. It is a statement of faith in God’s promise. This is bad, but one day Someone will fix it. Someone who will come through this woman’s offspring. She’s the key- she’s the lifegiver. And so, he turns at that moment and names her Eve, meaning lifegiver.

And the wait begins for the promised Seed…

**For more reflections on the Old Testament with personal application, you might want to download a free Bible study ebook!**