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EVE:  THE MOTHER OF ALL LIVING

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     The woman named “Eve” is only mentioned four times by name in the Bible (Gen. 3:20; 4:1; II Cor. 11:3; I Tim. 2:13).

 

B.     In Genesis 3:20, she is referred to as “the mother of all living.”

 

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she is the mother of all living.

 

1.       The name “Eve” means “life.”

2.       From Eve, all other human beings have been born.

3.       It is interesting that this name is given to her after the fall, that is, after her actions should have brought her immediate death (Gen. 2:16-17).

 

C.     As the first mother, there are many things that Eve came to know.  Let’s look at some of these things and make application of them to mother’s today.

 

I.             EVE KNEW PERFECTION

 

A.     Eve was created by God from the rib of Adam (Gen. 2:21-22).

1.       She was a woman who had no sin.

2.       She was brought to a man who had no sin.

3.       She was dwelling in a world where no sin had ever been committed.

4.       She was placed into a garden called “Eden” which means “paradise.”

5.       She was truly dwelling in a “heaven on earth.”

 

B.     Sadly, not one mother knows the condition of absolute perfection today.

1.       This world is an evil place now (I John 5:19).

 

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

 

2.       Too, no human adult knows the condition of sinless perfection (Rom. 3:23).

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

 

C.     What is interesting is that our present state of affairs was made possible by the one who knew perfection.

 

II.           EVE KNEW THE LAW OF GOD

 

A.     In Genesis 2:16-17, God had given the requirements about the trees of the Garden of Eden.  Only one was forbidden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

 

B.     Eve was apprised of this tree.  We know this because of her response to the serpent’s question:  “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:2-3).

 

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:  but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

 

1.       She knew she was not to eat of the tree.

2.       She knew that if she ate she would die.

3.       The words, “neither shall ye touch it,” were an added prohibition.

a.       Perhaps they came from Eve.

b.      Perhaps both Adam and Eve agreed that this would be the best course.

C.     All good mothers need to acquire a working knowledge of the Word of God.

1.       They need God’s Word for their own lives.  It provides everything needed for life and godliness (II Pet. 1:3).

2.       They need to know the Word of God to teach and direct the lives of their children (II Tim. 1:5).

 

III.         EVE KNEW TEMPTATION AND SIN

 

A.     One of the best of the best known stories of the Bible is the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.

1.       Satan’s question about all of the trees directed Eve’s attention to the one forbidden tree.

2.       NOTE:  Satan always points us toward things that are forbidden.

 

B.     The temptation is bold and effective.

1.       Satan denies the Word of God (Gen. 3:4).  He, thus, tells Eve there are no consequences to her sin.

 

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

 

2.       Satan makes dangerous promises (Gen. 3:5).  He tells about the “great benefits” in her actions.

 

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

 

3.       Satan used all the avenues of temptation.

a.       John says that temptation involves the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life (I John 2:16).

b.      All of these were used in the temptation of Eve (Gen. 3:6a).

 

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, (the lust of the flesh) and that is was pleasant to the eyes, (the lust of the eyes) and a tree to be desired to make one wise (the pride of life)…

 

C.     The temptation led to sin, that is, the transgression of the law of God (Gen. 3:6b).

 

…she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

D.    It is here that all mothers can identify with Eve.  Temptation and sin are real.  Not only is it real, it is a battle.

1.       II Corinthians 11:3

 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

2.       There are actions individual can take to overcome temptation and sin.  Two are very effective.

a.       Commit to the will of God (Ps. 119:11; Matt. 4:1-11).

b.      Adamantly refuse the temptation (James 4:7).

 

IV.         EVE KNEW ACCOUNTABILITY

 

A.     Immediately after the sin, Eve had to deal with her Creator.

 

B.     When Eve was first confronted, she tried to blame the serpent (Gen. 3:13).

 

And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done?  And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

 

1.       When she said this, God’s attention is immediately directed to the serpent, and He placed a curse on him (Gen. 3:14-15).

2.       The women may have thought that she was free, but that was not the case.

a.       Even if others influence us to sin, we must be held accountable.  Even if others are accomplices in our sin, we must be held accountable.

b.      God held Eve accountable (Gen. 3:16).

 

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

 

C.     Mothers need to realize that God will hold all of them accountable for their actions.

1.       It may not be as immediate as Eve’s accountability.

a.       Because accountability is not immediate, many think that they have escaped the wrath of God.

b.      Man has also created ways to escape immediate accountability (e.g., abortion).

2.       Accountability will come to pass, if not in this world, then in the world to come (Rom. 14:12; II Cor. 15:10).

 

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

V.           EVE KNEW HARDSHIP

 

A.     First, hardship came from her personal failings.

1.       Sorrow in child birth

2.       Subjection to her husband

3.       Separation from God:  cast out of the Garden of Eden

4.       Straining to do physical work

5.       Succumbing to physical death

 

B.     The second hardship involved her family.  In Genesis 4, we learn about the death of Abel at the hands of Cain (Gen. 4:8).

1.       Two areas of Eve’s grief:

a.       An evil son

b.      A dead son

2.       The Bible does not tell us of Eve’s reaction, but we can imagine how she felt.

3.       She was also cognizant that she was partly to blame.

 

C.     Almost every mother has known hardship that comes from personal failings and family problems. 

 

D.    There are at least four things that can be done to help us in times of trouble.

1.       Minimize our personal sin.

2.       Prepare our minds for the hard times.

3.       Pray and rely upon God in our difficulties.

4.       Surround ourselves with those who can comfort and encourage us.

 

VI.         EVE KNEW THE GRACE AND GOODNESS OF GOD

 

A.     After the death of Cain, the Lord blessed Eve with another son (Gen. 4:25).

 

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth:  for God, she said, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

 

1.       Evil and unpleasant things happen in life.  Sometimes, God replaces these with a blessing.

2.       Examples:

a.       Families who have lost a child were blessed with another child.

b.      Individuals lose a job only to find a better job.

c.       A forced move to another place causes one to find a second home.

B.     The words “shall surely die” in Genesis 2:12 involve a violent, bloody, physical death.

1.       Adam and Eve did not have to die such a death.  Why?

2.       God had a plan in mind to redeem fallen man.  This plan involved the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

a.       I Peter 1:19-20

 

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and spot:  who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…

 

b.      This plan was set in motion immediately after man’s fall (Gen. 3:15).

 

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

1)       Satan would bruise the heel of Jesus by means of the crucifixion.

2)       Jesus, however, would bruise the head of Satan by means of his resurrection from the dead.

 

C.     God is not a God who longs to condemn, punish, and destroy man.

1.       He can and He will if He must.

2.       But, He really longs to save all men.

a.       I Timothy 2:3-4

 

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

b.      Now, His grace and goodness had been extended by mean of the cross of Calvary and the story of grace and how to obtain it are found in the pages of the gospel of grace.

c.       Truly, He is “the God of all grace” (I Pet. 5:10), and His grace “that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Tit. 2:11).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Eve was unique in many ways:  the first mother, the mother of all living, and a mother who knew perfection.

 

B.     But, she was also like mothers today.  She knew temptation and sin, accountability, hardship, and the wonderful grace of God.

 

C.     May God bless all of our mothers.  May all of our mothers come to know the goodness and the grace of our heavenly Father.