Read: Genesis 3:1-4:26; Matthew 2:13-3:6; Psalm 2:1-12; Proverbs 1:7-9
When Eve listened to the serpent and allowed herself to be deceived by him she was changing masters. Your master is who ever you listen to and obey (Romans 6:16). Interestingly, sin didn’t enter through her eating the fruit but it entered when Adam ate the fruit. He was not deceived (1 Timothy 2:14) and clearly knew the consequences of his actions, but to not eat it would mean that he would be forever separated from Eve. He chose to eat the fruit of sin just as Jesus chose to eat the fruit of sin to redeem his bride back. Adam had to leave Eden for his bride and death entered the world. Jesus had to leave heaven for his bride and through his death, death was defeated.
What Adam lost in the garden, Jesus redeemed in the garden.
Dust is mentioned several times in today’s reading so I did some digging. “Dust” is mentioned 103 times in the Bible and it refers to man at his basic beginning - his lowest denominator. Satan was cursed to be as low as that. He would be cursed to crawl on his belly and eat dust which is his goal - to kill and destroy man, who is made of dust. God was showing us that we are above Satan and we tread on him, not vice versa. Jesus would one day crush his head on the cross and all he would be able to do is strike his heel. A crush to the head is death. A strike to the heel was the picture of Jesus on the cross but it was death that lead to eternal life. There is definitely enmity between Satan’s seed and God’s seed. We see that in our country as there are two sides and no gray area.
We also see the two seeds in Cain and Abel. Abel was a type of Christ who modeled the sacrifice that God honored. Abel gave his first and best and it was a blood sacrifice. Cain offered his left-over and it was from the dust of the earth. Hebrew 11:4 tells us that Abel’s sacrifice was more excellent and it witnessed to the fact that he was righteous. His blood spoke from the ground just as Jesus blood still speaks and is alive.
Cain could have repented and corrected his offering but instead he murdered Abel just as Satan murdered Jesus out of jealousy. Cain’s fifth generation was Lamech who was also a murderer.
Adam and Eve had another son, Seth to take the place of Abel. Seth means “appointed” and he stands for the Body of Christ who are appointed to carry out what Jesus started on this earth.
In Matthew we see God giving Joseph dreams twice so he will know what to do. God still speaks through dreams if we are listening. God had to bring Jesus out of Egypt as a picture of how God brings his children out of bondage into light.
John the Baptist appeared on the scene at the right time to prepare the people’s hearts to receive Jesus.
Psalms says it so well: the devil plots great things against God and God’s people, thinking they can win. God sits in heaven and laughs. We are on the winning side!
Lord, we rejoice in our salvation. We rejoice that You are our Father, our Keeper and our Deliverer. Today we will walk in your Spirit, doing your mighty acts on the earth.
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