Eve

I just started a new Bible study yesterday that is studying John MacArthur's book Twelve Extraordinary Women. The book examines the lives of twelve women from the Bible. The first chapter focuses on Eve.

Our main small-group discussion question yesterday was: "Which tree are we eating from? The tree of life? Or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?" We each talked about what it means to eat from the tree of life--being still with God, prayer, authenticity in Christian relationships, reading scripture. We also talked about our struggles to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil--the world's lies that we listen to, the focus on appearance, the gossip, the materialism, the fears and stresses. I am glad to be reminded of this discussion today.

This morning I was finishing up my chapter reading (better late than never!), and I realized something about Eve that I hadn't focused on before now. I have always focused on Eve's temptation, her sin, her fall, her curse.

But God provided hope even in the midst of this fallen world. Eve was still allowed to bear children, and through her son Seth, a godly line was established: "Then men began to call on the name of the Lord." (Gen. 4:26)

MacArthur writes: "After all, heaven will be filled with her redeemed offspring" (26).

That is so like the Lord. There is redemption in Eve, not only sin. There is hope even when it seems all is lost.