Genesis 3:17-19 God uses suffering to regenerate and restore, not to punish
Genesis 3:17-19
16 To the woman He said,
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.”
17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
19 By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.”
Background
Man’s eating of the forbidden tree leads to death which is the consequence of disobedience. However, not all is about justice and punishment, for what is central in the mind of God is restoration and man’s victory over darkness. Therefore, what seems harsh at the onset lies a deeper purpose of restoring prosperity to a blessed race. Today’s devotion teaches that God uses suffering to restore and to regenerate man towards abundant living. His purpose is not to destroy or to punish but to forgive and to prosper. Suffering is God’s discipline and process in restoring man into His kingdom. God’s constant desire is for none to perish, but for all to experience eternal life. By harbouring a correct attitude towards suffering, we adorn ourselves progressively with the righteousness and virtues of Christ through which we receive our eternal glory.
Observation
I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth,… Yet your desire will be for your husband…
The aftermath of the woman’s disobedience results in God’s implementation of a series of changes affecting her relationship with the man, as well as implications concerning childbirth. With these changes, God endeavours to restore the woman to her original glory, not to punish her. For everything that God does carries a purpose for good, not for evil albeit our existential difficulty to make full sense of it. Bearing in mind that man may have lost substantially the divine glory and image that he possesses before the fall. Hence, begins the long and tedious process of restoring humanity which fundamentally requires suffering on the part of God and man. The multiplication of pain in the process of pregnancy and childbirth is necessary in that it adds to the mother the instinct to treasure, nurture and to protect her children. I have in several occasions notice, the child associated with a difficult pregnancy is usually most cherished among the siblings.
Nevertheless, the woman’s folly has also adversely affected her psyche making her emotionally dependent on the man. The burden of being deceived that resulted in the death of humanity weighs heavily on her soul impeding her towards becoming that perfect helper she is meant to be.
Because you have listened to the voice of your wife… Cursed is the ground because of you…
As the curse of death falls upon man, livelihood has in reality become increasingly difficult: In toil you will eat of it. As the ground represents man’s habitat and the total environment, the curse affects everything under the sun causing the earth to become harsh and unyielding. Thus, what used to be a field of fruitful vegetation is now infested with abundance of thorns and thistles. Death or man’s return to the ground is in fact a gift of God’s mercy in granting humanity permanent relief from this poverty stricken life and an entrance into God’s kingdom, a new heaven and new earth (see Isaiah 65:17). God’s curse upon the ground is necessary in part as a judgement (see Genesis 2:17), a curse due to man’s disobedience to the Law (see Galatians 3:13). But more importantly the suffering that ensues teaches man to cherish God’s kindness that sanctifies him towards godly contentment. God’s discipline serves not to consummate the burden of justice, but most importantly, it is a means of regeneration so that man may live righteously and experience eternal life.
Truth
God uses suffering to regenerate and restore, not to punish
God, in pronouncing a series of seemingly adverse changes purposes not to harm, but to discipline and to prepare humanity for a blessed future. That includes the pain of childbirth, as well as the thorns and thistles that grow on the ground. God says to the people by the words of prophet Jeremiah,
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Why is suffering a requisite component in God’s restorative plan for man? Regeneration of the human heart is inextricably tied to eternal life, it is a precursor to a life of bliss and blessings. And in order for the work of regeneration to be complete, profound and enduring, it must go beyond the process of cognitive learning. It requires repeated testing through real life situations in order to regenerate and to strengthen one’s virtues. For example, the virtue of mercy and forgiveness must be tested through occasions of unspeakable disappointment of unrequited love and loyalty. Having said that, certain gems of the spirit requires great effort in unearthing and refining them; like gold being refined through the crucibles of suffering. Christopher Reeve, who stars as Superman in the movies discovers that in real life he is not as invincible as the character he portrayed. In interviews following his fateful accident, Reeve comments that since being paralysed by an accident, he has been experiencing a new lease of life; a contentment he will not have otherwise experienced. Indeed, God disciplines his sons through the trials of life so that we may yield the fruit of righteousness. The bible says,
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11
How does suffering propel us towards righteousness, contentment and a better life?
Suffering clarifies the real worth of things. When one passes through the valley of intense suffering, and perhaps to the verge of giving up on life, the world can take on a whole new meaning. The mere chirping of birds, the whiff of wild flowers infuse the soul with indescribable delight and ecstasy. The thought of our family and friends brings warmth, even a sense of wistfulness amidst a desire to cherish and treasure. Suffering forces a sharper vision of life’s priorities. It causes us to cherish what we have and to do what is really important against the tide of worldly opinions. The man and the woman having been made heirs of the world without working for it cannot appreciate the true value of things. A harsher environment is not all punishment but a means to bring a greater appreciation and gratitude for the gift of life. The woman, having to go through dire pain to bear her child will develop a keener maternal instinct. The man, having to work harder for his possessions will learn to treasure and value all things. The poet John Dryden expresses this, “We, by our sufferings, learn to prize our bliss” and hence, a better life.
Suffering purifies the heart and separates the superficial from the substantial. The apostle Paul warned the Corinthian believers against building the church on superficiality. Some churchgoers are of the “gold, silver, precious stones” category, while others exhibit qualities of “wood, hay, straw” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Churchgoers belonging to the former category endure the test of fire and suffering, while the latter do not. The fire of suffering test the authenticity of each man’s faith to reveal the underlying material. Many churches in a bid to shore up membership predominantly preach the superficial messages of blessings and salvation. They rarely talk about truths for living and the sufferings of Christ that leads to perfection and glory. As a result, most of them having been promised irrevocable salvation with the prospect of becoming rich are in church. Churchgoers who are of wood, hay and straw will be disappointed with God and many will leave the faith as their motives are impure and superficial. Paul continues, “If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). However, those that are of the category of gold will be further refined in their character with their hearts purified in the process. The result is a person of a higher stature, better equipped to impact the world for good.
Through suffering, we understand and empathise with humanity at large so that we may be a people of compassion. Many have not developed compassion because they do not yet know what it feels like to suffer poverty, sickness and oppression as do the majority of the human race. Even Jesus who having possessed all knowledge of the universe must experience a myriad of tragedies so that He may understand what it is like to be human. Hebrews 2:18 speaks of the necessity for Jesus to suffer before He can be of help to humanity, “For since Jesus Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” Therefore, it is fundamental that Jesus grasp the full spectrum of human suffering and experience so that He may be the High Priest, the Mediator, the Intercessor between God and man. Thus, having obtained first hand knowledge of the human weakness, he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness (Hebrews 5:2). True compassion must go beyond the provision of quick fixes (to problems); for it seeks a deeper bond with the sufferer, to empathise and to accompany in his journey of affliction.
Many people do not welcome suffering because they cannot see the point of acquiring the virtues of Jesus. However, if only we can understand the singular virtue that propels Jesus to the highest station of the universe is His compassion for hardcore sinners and the deprived alike. Faith and hope no doubt has made Abraham the Father of the nations. But it is the ability to exercise compassion in the midst of grave injustice that crowned Jesus as the King and Lord of the universe. As Paul aptly put, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Application
1. Do you some times think that your current difficulties are a result of God’s displeasure towards you? The apostle Paul says, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans 5:9. God is no longer looking to punish you for your sins, but He extends to you His invitation of reconciliation and adoption as sons through Christ. Your current challenges are part of God’s training plan to promote you in due time. Joseph, the prince of Egypt must go through 20 years of pure hardship before God promoted him to Egypt’s second in command. And having enrolled yourself in the University of Hard Knocks, you will find yourself becoming wiser and more courageous than ever. Therefore, whenever you face off a disappointment, a betrayal or another failure, rejoice that you will be one notch higher in the ladder of glory.
2. You may be in the thick of financial hardship, or a rocky relationship. Be encouraged that God will come through for you in due time. The psalmist says,
Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalms 37:4-5
Do the following and you will be on your way to a breakthrough.
a. Live each day at a time without worrying about tomorrow. Focus all your energy on overcoming the challenges at hand with the grace that God provides.
b. Enjoy the little pleasures of life, and the people around you. Pay attention to the little victories and blessings that come your way and celebrate them.
c. Immerse yourself into God’s word. Be diligent to study the bible and derive the truths and applications therein.
d. Accustom yourself to giving thanks not because the circumstances have improved, but because your heart is firmly rooted in the promises of God’s word.
Dear Lord, I am at peace because your love is greater than my weaknesses. You anticipate my mistakes and save me from my carelessness. I thank you for taking an interest in me, to mould me into the likeness of your Son; full of compassion, wisdom, and courage. Give me strength to face my challenges, and help me live each day at a time while casting all my anxieties on you. I thank you for the people you have placed in my life. Cause me to cherish them and to accept them as they are. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.