Journeying in Genesis: Hope for the Weary

“And to Adam he said,

‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife

and have eaten of the tree

of which I commanded you,

“You shall not eat of it,”

cursed is the ground because of you;

in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;

and you shall eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your face

you shall eat bread,

till you return to the ground,

for out of it you were taken;

for you are dust,

and to dust you shall return.’”

Genesis 3:17-19

Listening to anyone other than God is foolish. Our sin has a ripple effect that harms others, and produces futility. The penalty is horrific. Yet in all of this we are seeing the mercy and grace of God. He is allowing them to be thirsty for a better way. It will set the stage for the coming Savior. God knew that down the road, His Son would be born of a virgin to take on the penalty for all sin to reconcile us to God. He would say to a sin weary world,

“Come to me,

all who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

We should desire a way out of this fallen state. And that way out is found in Christ alone. Psalm 103:14 tells us that He remembers we are dust. He knows we need help. Life here is hard, but we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us. Psalm 126:5 says,

“Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!”

Because of our gracious and faithful Creator, the best is yet to come!