Journeying in Genesis: Desire Askew; Desire Anew!

"To the woman he said,

‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;

in pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,

but he shall rule over you.’”

Genesis 3:16

Eve ignored God’s command and trusted the lying Serpent. Fruit bearing of various kinds will now become hard and painful. Eve would still have desire for her husband, but would also desire his position rather than enjoying her own. When they embraced sin, Eve took dominion and Adam was weak. What once was a joyful situation of clear positions with equal value, was now a mess.

I could’t help but think of how sin contaminates our desires. My spirit knows a third piece of cake isn’t a good idea. My flesh doesn’t care and wants to meet that craving. And we’re prone to crave things a lot more harmful than too much cake. It’s why we’re taught to walk in the spirit, not the flesh. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us to crave the things that bring us joy and bring God glory.

According to Scripture, we were meant to crave a clean heart, right spirit, God’s ways, fear of the Lord, righteousness, holiness, God’s works, learning from and about Him; we were meant to crave God Himself. Our sinful cravings fall so short. So Jesus came to make us alive again and set us free from the power of sin! Through salvation we’re being sanctified to regain those godly cravings. Psalm 37:4 gives us instruction and great hope,

“Delight yourself in the LORD,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

Delighting in Him aligns our hearts with right cravings which He is happy to fulfill. What a merciful Creator!