This very common question comes up often and in combination with this question: “If God is slow to anger, then why was His punishment so severe and long-lasting when man first sinned?”
Obviously, His punishment is long-lasting … we are still seeing the effects of original sin today in each and every one of us, and in the world around us.
But was God’s punishment too severe?
I would argue the opposite – that His punishment was actually not severe enough.
To start, God created Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. (Genesis 2:7). And He created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. (Genesis 2:20-23). Making the mother and father of all humanity just mere creatures made from the dust.
God put Adam in the Garden of Eden to work and keep it. And God commanded Adam that he could eat from every tree in the garden, except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17 ESV).
But the devil came along in the form of a serpent and deceived Eve by twisting God’s Word, and “when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:1-6 ESV).
But instead of dying that day, they lived another day … and another … and another … until Adam lived a total of 930 years. (Genesis 5:5).
And although Adam and Eve were naked, God clothed them – not only in animal skins (Genesis 3:21) to cover the shame of their nakedness, but He also clothed them in His Grace and Mercy.
God took the severe punishment that SHOULD HAVE been directed completely onto Adam and Eve and all their offspring – us – and directed it at the devil. He said to the devil: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15 ESV).
The devil’s offspring is only sin and death. Adam and Eve’s offspring is the only begotten Son of God – Jesus Christ. Whom our Heavenly Father promised to them – and us – who would deliver us from all sin, death, and the devil on the cross.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 NKJV).
And even more, we can be sure that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38).
Soli Deo Gloria!
(Published on the Devotional Page of the Alpine Avalanche Newspaper on Thurs, July 25, 2024)
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