“To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.””
Humanity has fallen. Sin has entered the world. But God is still present, and God is still speaking! He addresses the three individuals involved in this cosmic incident, and he does it in this order: snake, Eve, and then Adam. We find ourselves on the second: God’s words to Eve. As was the case with the snake, these words are meant for humanity (not just females!).
Of the many effects of the fall of humanity, pain is one. Represented to the woman in childbearing, what once revealed woman’s “image of God” status (literally bringing life into the world) is now replaced with a reminder of sin and rebellion. And the representation goes beyond the woman. Pain is part of existing in a fallen world. There is no separation. Joy and peace and happiness will always have the taint of pain until Jesus comes again to make all things new.
But pain is only one effect of the fall. Another is conflict. Where perfect peace and harmony marked the relationship between man and woman, there now exists competition and strife. The desire for God’s glory is no longer primary, which means (different) sinful desires well up and war with one another. To make matters worse, sometimes one person’s desire loses out to another’s (he shall rule over you).
In all of this, pride from both sides and pain in between reveal the pestilence of sin in the world. This is why the Christian cries to God for salvation, preservation, revelation, and to make all things new. This is why God gives hope, patience, and perseverance to his people. God’s words to Eve are stark reminders of the Christian’s continual call: come, Lord Jesus!
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”