1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,400 Genesis 3, verses 14 through. 19 This is the. 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,760 Curse we're looking at, we're examining, we're thinking about, 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,800 we're praying about the curse of sin and I've I've got a lot to 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:12,600 say this morning. There's a lot of explanation 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,480 that needs to take place. But when it's all said and done, 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,400 when all the smoke clears, I really only have. 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,160 One big goal this morning. Not a lot. 8 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,120 Not a couple different goals, really, just just one and so. 9 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,280 Before I pull the veil back for that, let me just catch you up 10 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:29,680 to speed. If you missed last week or 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:31,520 missed last couple weeks or haven't been with us, we're. 12 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,080 Doing a slow army crawl. Through the book of Genesis. 13 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,440 Here's what you missed in last. Weeks episode God creates 14 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,480 everything out of nothing. He creates Adam and Eve 15 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:44,080 particularly. With his own image. 16 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,720 And then a. Character The serpent slithers 17 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,680 in. And in a world of yeses and one 18 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,160 no. The Serpent. 19 00:00:51,160 --> 00:00:55,360 Deceives Adam and Eve into into doing the one no and what ends 20 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,480 up happening we looked at this last week is that sin enters 21 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:03,080 into and pollutes the human heart and human nature it it 22 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,920 creates a heart that essentially is a factory that produces blame 23 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:13,120 shifting and excuses and sin and what we see in our text this 24 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,800 morning it takes that. One step further. 25 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,120 We see that it's not just a matter of sin entering in to the 26 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:22,200 human heart or the human mind or human nature. 27 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,720 But. Sin enters into the very fabric 28 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,640 of creation itself. Through. 29 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,960 The administration. Of the. 30 00:01:32,960 --> 00:01:34,960 Curse. And so there's going to be a lot 31 00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:36,200 to think about this. Morning. 32 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:43,760 But if I were you, I would give. My best thinking. 33 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,760 For the next 40 minutes. And the reason why is because 34 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,440 this is the type of text that can be misconstrued and 35 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,240 misunderstood. To. 36 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,560 Formulate on. Biblical observations about God. 37 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,480 There's a high degree of misunderstanding when it comes 38 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,400 to this particular text. And so this sermon, I think it's 39 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,200 going to be pretty unlike an ordinary sermon that I preached. 40 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,639 If you've been with me, you know that I like to preach and. 41 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,280 Expose it and then illustrate and then explain. 42 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:12,840 And then illustrate. And then explain. 43 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,440 And then preach. This sermon is going to be. 44 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,200 More like honestly it's going to be like 3540 straight minutes. 45 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,040 Of sustained. Argumentation, but if you can. 46 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,720 If you can, yeah, yeah, yeah. So if you can give your best. 47 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,960 Thinking up. To the net these next 40 48 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,560 minutes. They might be exhausting, but I 49 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:37,160 think by the grace of God your mind may reach. 50 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,840 New depths. And perhaps you'll walk out of 51 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:45,400 this building with a a better and more Christ like 52 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,520 understanding of suffering and pain and so. 53 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,920 Here's my one goal. As we look at these verses 54 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:54,280 together, my one. Goal just one. 55 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,640 My one. Goal this morning is. 56 00:02:56,920 --> 00:03:07,880 I want us to see the mercy. And goodness of God, even in the 57 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:15,080 midst of his administration of consequences and curses. 58 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:16,480 That's it. I want you to see his. 59 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:21,280 Goodness in the midst of him administering the curse this 60 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,040 morning. The curse is real. 61 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,000 And life is suffering, and we live in a. 62 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,680 World that's overshadowed by the. 63 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,200 Curse. And yet God is very kind, and he 64 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:31,080 is very. Good. 65 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,960 Both of those truths are. Totally compatible, so if you're 66 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:37,720 able, let's go ahead and stand. For the reading of the Word of 67 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:51,970 God, Genesis 3, verses 14 through. 19 the Lord. 68 00:03:51,970 --> 00:03:57,330 God said to the serpent, because you have done this, curse it. 69 00:03:57,330 --> 00:03:59,690 Are you above? All livestock and above all, 70 00:03:59,690 --> 00:04:01,610 the. Beasts of the field on your 71 00:04:01,610 --> 00:04:02,970 belly. You shall go. 72 00:04:02,970 --> 00:04:06,770 And dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 73 00:04:07,610 --> 00:04:09,480 I will. I'll. 74 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,160 Put enmity. Enmity. 75 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,240 An enemy? I'll put enmity. 76 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,640 Between you and the woman and between. 77 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,240 Your offspring and her offspring. 78 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:22,360 He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. 79 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:26,760 Pause that verse right there. Verse 15 It's called the proto 80 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:27,960 at you angelion. It's the. 81 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:30,160 Most. Important verse in this entire 82 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,640 section of Scripture. And I'm not going to preach it 83 00:04:33,640 --> 00:04:36,760 this morning. I'm going to preach it next 84 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:41,120 Sunday because that singular verse demands. 40 minutes of 85 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:43,160 your time. So put it, take it put. 86 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,360 It in your back pocket and we'll get we'll look at it. 87 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,200 Really closely next week, but the text goes. 88 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,800 On and he says, he turns from the serpent to the woman, and he 89 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,200 says. The woman, he said. 90 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,240 I will surely multiply your. Pain and childbearing and pain 91 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,280 you shall bring forth children your. 92 00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:01,720 Desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over 93 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:03,560 you. And then he turns to Adam. 94 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,440 And he said now you buddy. And to Adam, he said. 95 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,640 Because you I don't. Actually, no, let me take that 96 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,000 back. I don't think that's his tone. 97 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:12,840 I think his tone is. More. 98 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:15,000 And to Adam, he said. Because you have. 99 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,920 Listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree 100 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,360 of which I commanded you, You shall not. 101 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,360 Eat of it. Cursed is the ground. 102 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,320 Because of you. Son in pain. 103 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,880 You shall eat of it all the days of your life. 104 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,320 Thorns. Thistles. 105 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:39,080 It's going to start to produce it shall bring forth. 106 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,720 For you, and you shall eat. The plants of the field it's by 107 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,560 the. Sweat of your face. 108 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:49,480 Dripping off your nose by the sweat of your. 109 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,320 Face you shall eat bread. Till you return to the ground. 110 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:59,800 Or out of it you're. Taken son, you are dust, and to 111 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,920 dust you shall return. Heavenly Father. 112 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,160 There is so much goodness and so many displays of restrained 113 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,040 judgment and mercy in these texts, and sometimes we just. 114 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,040 Miss them because our. Brain is going other. 115 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,800 Places so I pray we would take a good. 116 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,360 Honest look at your text. This morning and. 117 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,840 Reckon with the. Consequences of sin honestly 118 00:06:24,280 --> 00:06:25,760 and. Still through the. 119 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,000 Pain and suffering. See your goodness and mercy. 120 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,880 We sang it. We sang it this morning. 121 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,840 Already we already. Sang the sermon, For the curse 122 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:37,840 of sin has no hold. On me. 123 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,680 That's true. We feel the effects of sin. 124 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:49,040 We feel the consequences. Of the curse. 125 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,800 But it doesn't. Hold us anymore, We don't have 126 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:54,960 to. Bear it. 127 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,240 Anymore, and that's because of the. 128 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:59,720 Gospel of Jesus So it's in the precious name of Jesus that all 129 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,280 God's people prayed. Amen. 130 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:04,040 You can have a seat. Clearly we have a. 131 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:07,320 Lot of work to. Do you're sitting? 132 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:08,880 I must start. Talking the curse. 133 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,120 Life is hard. Life is pain. 134 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:16,240 David Goggins was right about some stuff. 135 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:18,680 Life is suffering. Who's going to carry the? 136 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:24,040 Boats Rocky Balboa was right. It's not about how hard you can 137 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:28,040 hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. 138 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:31,440 Life is full of pain, suffering. Is real. 139 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,040 We need to keep moving forward in the midst of this cursive. 140 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,320 World We have three main characters in our story so far, 141 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:38,400 besides God. We have the serpent, we have the 142 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,880 woman, and we have man. Each of them experience unique 143 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,000 concepts, consequences. Because of the curse of sin. 144 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,760 So we'll take each character 1 by 1 and. 145 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,160 Look at the unique consequence. That each gets the first 146 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,480 character that God turns to is first the. 147 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,560 Serpent. This is verse 14. 148 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,720 The Lord God said to the serpent, because you have done 149 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,880 this, curse it are you above all livestock and above all beasts 150 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,920 of the field on your belly you're going to crawl and and 151 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:10,720 dust, dust you shall. Eat all the days of your life. 152 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,360 This is this is fascinating, isn't it? 153 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,200 One of the reasons why. This text is fascinating. 154 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,400 Is because with all three characters, what the curse does 155 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:24,920 is it strikes uniquely and exactly at each character's 156 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,240 greatest desire. What we need to see from this is 157 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,920 that God's not arbitrarily throwing a fit and just 158 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:35,159 arbitrarily throwing suffering out at all these characters. 159 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,799 Each one is uniquely administered to the unique 160 00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:41,320 desire of each character. For instance, the serpent. 161 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,040 The serpent's greatest desire was pride and the desire to rule 162 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,120 over. Creation. 163 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:51,800 And what does he get? Yeah, humiliation. 164 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,240 Cursive to crawl on his belly. Doctor Michael Heizer, A. 165 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:56,680 Biblical scholar says. Quote. 166 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:01,320 Satan wanted to be the most high, so God made Satan into the 167 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:04,440 most low. He is humbled. 168 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,680 He's. Humiliated into being condemned 169 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:09,560 into the most cursive. Creature look at the text person 170 00:09:09,560 --> 00:09:12,240 to crawl on his belly lowness for. 171 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:14,440 The rest of his life. Look at his diet. 172 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,920 Did you guys notice his diet? Right there in the text. 173 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:24,320 Dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 174 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:27,360 Do you know? Do you know how much nutritional 175 00:09:27,560 --> 00:09:31,320 value dust has? I looked it up. 176 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:36,080 None 00. Carbs. 177 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,680 Right, 0 calories which might. Sound good to some of. 178 00:09:39,680 --> 00:09:43,120 You but also zero protein. There's nothing of any 179 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,560 nutritional value here. Satan is condemned to a diet. 180 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:49,160 That will leave him angry, small and nutrient. 181 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,040 Deficient with those epic eyes. Don't believe the comic book 182 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,600 illustrations? You know, you see these comic 183 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:56,440 book illustrations where like Satan is this? 184 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:01,920 Jacked character raw. He's eating his his, his diet is 185 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,520 composed of dust, right? He's a skinny. 186 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,560 Malnourished serpent with a chip on his non existent shoulder. 187 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:09,240 What's dust? What is dust? 188 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:11,720 Do you know what's composed of? I didn't. 189 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,640 I looked it up. Dust is composed primarily of 190 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,200 dirt, obviously. Soil, obviously. 191 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:28,800 Some microscopic debris, obviously, and tiny bits of dead 192 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,120 skin. That's interesting. 193 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,120 What are Adam and Eve made of? Genesis. 194 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:36,360 Two God takes. Dust. 195 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:37,600 And he breathes. Life into it. 196 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,680 How does this text end? Adam is condemned to. 197 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,240 Experience physical death and he returns to what? 198 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,360 Interesting. Exhaust what God is. 199 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:52,600 Doing is he's condemning Satan. To the realm of death. 200 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:57,160 The serpent is condemned to. Become a literal Death Eater. 201 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,880 This is why the. Enemy's desire is to. 202 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,640 Steal. Kill. 203 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,480 And destroy he loves. Death. 204 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,040 It's his only diet. It's. 205 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,000 All he can really eat. And there's. 206 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,760 Going to be a specific death thousands of years later that 207 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:14,320 the. Serpent will eat and that death. 208 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,440 Will destroy the serpent. From the inside. 209 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,880 Out the death of Christ. But I'm getting ahead of myself. 210 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:24,120 That's later on in the story. The serpent desires glory. 211 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:27,840 But he's. Cursed to humiliation strikes at 212 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,480 his greatest desire. And then he turns to the woman. 213 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,120 2nd. We see the woman verse. 16, he 214 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,440 says to the woman, he said. I will, surely. 215 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,440 Multiply your pain. In childbearing, in pain, you 216 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,000 shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your. 217 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:48,040 Husband and he shall. Rule over you, holy. 218 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:52,400 Trigger warning. Take a breath, it's OK, we can 219 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,480 talk about. This what's what's. 220 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:59,600 Going on here, well, again, what's happening is the curse is 221 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:05,240 uniquely striking exactly at what these characters desire 222 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:07,680 most. Eve as we see in chapter. 2 is 223 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:10,800 built for fruitfulness, and so she comes programmed with a 224 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:14,880 stronger desire for relationships, particularly 225 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,400 marriage and childbearing. And those spheres of joy. 226 00:12:19,680 --> 00:12:25,320 Those spheres of desire remain. But they will now also. 227 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:29,320 Include increased pain Eve. Will still get to bear. 228 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,200 Children, but the process will be extremely painful. 229 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:34,800 Eve will still get to. Experience marriage, but now 230 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,840 it's. Now it's characterized by 231 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,320 hardship. Look at the text. 232 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,240 It says. Your desire shall be. 233 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,200 For your husband, there's. A lot of argumentation over 234 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:47,840 theologians about what exactly this means. 235 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,560 You're welcome to end up on a different page. 236 00:12:49,560 --> 00:12:52,040 Than me. I'm pretty convinced that this 237 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:53,680 is not. Romantic language. 238 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,960 For a couple different reasons. 1 The immediate context and. 239 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:00,240 A couple of. Different things that happened 240 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:01,920 in Genesis. Four that we'll get around to. 241 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:03,680 I don't. Think this is like. 242 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,320 Oh man, I really want to get AI. Don't think it's romantic 243 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,440 language, I think. And most Christian. 244 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,560 Scholars think this too. Is that this is suggesting that 245 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:15,320 because of the curse of sin, Eve will be? 246 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,680 Tempted to dominate and. Rule over her husband harshly. 247 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,640 Her desire shall be to rule over her husband, and I think this 248 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:24,960 because of the next. Line. 249 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:26,680 It's a corresponding line. Look at it. 250 00:13:28,560 --> 00:13:33,160 He shall rule over you. I think this is struggle. 251 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,720 I think this is power hungry. Struggle between husband and 252 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:38,320 wife? That's uniquely the result. 253 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,280 Of the curse that. Every marriage, even the good 254 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,840 ones, experience to some. Level and degree. 255 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,520 And now that that line there he shall. 256 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,600 Rule over you another. Pause. 257 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,240 Another deep breath, Derek. Kidner, A. 258 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:56,880 British Old Testament reform scholar in his. 259 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,880 Genesis commentary states this. Perfectly, he says. 260 00:13:59,880 --> 00:14:01,400 Quote. This. 261 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:03,120 Statement. He shall rule over you. 262 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:06,200 This. Statement is not a statement. 263 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:07,760 Of what? Should. 264 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,720 Happen. This is a statement. 265 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:11,400 Of what will. Happen. 266 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:13,280 That makes sense. This is not a. 267 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:15,440 Commandment. It's not it's it's. 268 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,080 Just grammatically. Not organized as a commandment, 269 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,200 you must. Rule harshly over your wife? 270 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,080 No. Men are called to rule. 271 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:25,800 But not. Over, alongside and 272 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:28,160 sacrificially. And so this verse is a prophecy. 273 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,760 Of what will tend. To happen in a. 274 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,920 Cursed world with sin, he will tend to rule. 275 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,080 Over you and we know. That this is a. 276 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,360 Distortion of the marriage. Relationship because of the new. 277 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:41,760 Testament, but also because of Genesis. 278 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,560 Two right in Genesis 2. We took a whole sermon on this 279 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,320 and we looked really. Carefully and we saw that God 280 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:52,920 calls Adam to sacrificial, selfless life giving. 281 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:56,160 Leadership that. Helps Eve flourish. 282 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:57,920 That's God's design. Amen. 283 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:00,840 But but when a man. Uses his leadership to. 284 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:04,880 Harshly rule and harshly dominate. 285 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:09,080 That's not God's design. That's a result of the the 286 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:12,680 curse, and so this is a description, not a. 287 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,120 Prescription. So men are not supposed to look 288 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,160 at that. One verse and say oh I. 289 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,040 Got to I got to boss my wife around more, huh? 290 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:24,680 No, that's that desire is the result of the. 291 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,080 Curse not the result of faithfulness to God's design, 292 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,280 and that's also true. Of the verse before, right Eve's 293 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,160 desire to rule over her husband harshly. 294 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,440 And. To treat him like a child on ATV 295 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:40,400 show is also the. Result of sin, but every 296 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,360 marriage feels to some degree. The result of this? 297 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,800 Curse in their relational dynamic men feel it too, right, 298 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,200 maybe to different degrees like the the most recent data says 299 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:56,040 that 75% of divorces in the modern world are initiated by 300 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:00,760 women and what that tends to suggest is not that only women. 301 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,080 Experience. Frustration in marriage, I think 302 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,680 that suggests. Strongly that women experience 303 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,560 that. Frustration in marriage more 304 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:11,880 acutely than men tend to. Which I think is evidence. 305 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:14,800 That what God is. Talking about in Genesis. 3 is 306 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,400 operative and actually real and in this lifetime. 307 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,880 And so Eve desires relationship. She gets to keep the 308 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,800 relationships, but those relationships become. 309 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,600 Frustrated. And then God turns to the man in 310 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:33,800 verse 17 and to Adam, he said. Because you have listened. 311 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,520 To the. Voice of your wife. 312 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,360 Men. Be good listeners to your. 313 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,640 Wives, the New Testament says, live with your wives in an 314 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:42,560 understanding. Way this is not. 315 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,240 Saying don't listen to your wife the. 316 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,840 Thrust of this text. Is that Adam chose to. 317 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,800 Value Eve's voice more. Than God's. 318 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,320 Voice, he listened to his. Wife's voice. 319 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,880 When it was contrary. To the voice of God, right He. 320 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:01,960 Made an idol. Out of Eve, he chose to worship. 321 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,760 Her rather than worshiping. God, that's the problem here, 322 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:05,920 because you've listened to the voice of your. 323 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,319 Wife and have. Eaten up the tree which? 324 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:10,599 I commanded you. You shall not eat of it. 325 00:17:11,079 --> 00:17:13,040 Cursed is the. Ground. 326 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:17,280 Because of you and pain. You shall eat of it all the days 327 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,359 of your life. Thorns and Thistles is going to 328 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:22,599 bring forth and. By the sweat of your face, 329 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:26,359 you'll eat your bread until you return to the ground where you 330 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,079 die again. What's? 331 00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:34,960 Happening here. It's strategically striking at 332 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,000 one of Adam's greatest. Desires in life to have. 333 00:17:38,360 --> 00:17:43,200 Meaningful work to make a dent. In the world to make an impact. 334 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,800 In the world, he was placed in the garden to work and keep the 335 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,960 garden to take Eden global. He's supposed to. 336 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:53,800 Want to make an impact? On the world with his work and 337 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:57,040 he still gets to continue to work, but what happens to the 338 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:05,320 ground that he works? It becomes cursive suddenly, up 339 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,120 to this point, all the ground. Produces is fruit and life. 340 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:12,040 And vegetation. And suddenly it produces 341 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,240 something different. What? 342 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:20,160 Verse. 18 thorns and and thistles and so. 343 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:26,120 Creation no longer works. In effortless harmony. 344 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,920 With the efforts of humankind. Now it seems to. 345 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:33,920 Wage war against us and the. Creation now has. 346 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:38,360 Teeth it bites it Laborers against us. 347 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:43,120 Thorns they all, they almost. Look like Serpentine teeth. 348 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:47,640 And now if you want to. Get it to produce fruit in life. 349 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:52,280 You can, but it requires what verse? 350 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,120 19. Sweat. 351 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,520 You got sweat. Now wrestle it. 352 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:00,040 You got work at it. So work. 353 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,120 It retains its purpose. It retains. 354 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:05,040 Its meaning it returns its value but. 355 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:06,800 It's also going to suck until the day that. 356 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:07,720 You die. That's. 357 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,280 Literally what the text by the sweat of your face, you shall 358 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:13,840 eat bread till you. Return to the ground for. 359 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:17,960 Out of it, you were taken. For your dust into dust shall 360 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:23,960 return the man desires. Meaningful work, but now work. 361 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:30,240 Has thorns and thistles. Here's here's the Here's the. 362 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,760 Big Here's the big guy. Here's the SparkNotes summary 363 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:35,640 for you. OK, here's what's happening. 364 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,760 Throughout this entire passage. Because of. 365 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:46,200 Sin pain is now. Rightly woven. 366 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:51,640 Into every square inch of the fabric of creation. 367 00:19:53,640 --> 00:20:01,080 It's everywhere and God does not administer it like a child 368 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:05,400 throwing a tantrum. He administers it as a judge 369 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:10,600 judicially, carefully, precisely and exactly. 370 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,640 And that that doesn't make this text. 371 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:22,960 I don't know, doesn't. Make this text easier, right? 372 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:24,080 Like am I the only? One who? 373 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,680 Struggles with this text like it's not. 374 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,720 Been a fun week. For me to prepare this. 375 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:34,160 Sermon you know, it's been tough. 376 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,800 I've really struggled with it, like the text pushes against my. 377 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:40,840 Flesh like I've cried. Out to the Lord. 378 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,840 This morning. This week, like how? 379 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,320 How's this just? Why? 380 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:53,280 Thorns, thistles, pain. And I think that's a. 381 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,000 Valid question. Why? 382 00:20:56,440 --> 00:21:01,680 I really do, but I need you to lock in here. 383 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:06,120 Because. I think there are answers to 384 00:21:06,120 --> 00:21:08,880 that question, but this sermon is not the type of sermon that 385 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,080 you can. Just take bits and pieces. 386 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:12,400 From and draw on. Biblical conclusions about God 387 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:13,600 so. Before I say anything in 388 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,160 response to, why is this just? As just. 389 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,360 Hear me plainly here. You just you need. 390 00:21:18,360 --> 00:21:21,840 To know that God is not. Cruel. 391 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:28,200 He's not unkind. He's not a psychopath who loves 392 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,000 to. Administer pain. 393 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:38,360 He's not. Malevolent, he doesn't delight 394 00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:40,520 in inflicting pain upon his good. 395 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:47,240 Creation. Doesn't make him happy, but he's 396 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:52,240 willing. He's willing to sovereignly 397 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:58,440 administer pain. To the degree that it. 398 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:02,520 Turns us. Back towards what is ultimately 399 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:08,000 best for us. Which is himself, and so he's 400 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,560 willing to do it. Because that's what. 401 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,080 Good leaders do. That's what good doctors do. 402 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:21,080 That's what good. Parents do like when I survey 403 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,480 everything that the Bible has to say about suffering, which is a 404 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:32,200 lot, and when I survey my own personal experience with. 405 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:40,040 Suffering. It's it seems to me that the 406 00:22:42,120 --> 00:22:51,040 exact amount of suffering that God permits in our lives and you 407 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:52,880 got to forgive. Me if it sounds arrogant and 408 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,320 prideful to know that exact calculation. 409 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:57,920 But I think that the. Exact. 410 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,200 Amount of suffering that God permits to enter into our lives 411 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:05,760 is exactly this I think that God permits in our lives. 412 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:09,440 Too much. Suffering for us to possibly 413 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:18,440 bear in the flesh and never enough suffering to break us in 414 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,320 the spirit. That makes sense. 415 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:30,720 Are we having fun this morning? The bull's eye it. 416 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,720 Seems to me biblically that God aims at in determining how much 417 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,040 suffering. Doesn't get to go into Cole 418 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:38,640 Daikie. 'S life and how much suffering 419 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:43,960 does get to go into Cole's life? It seems to be precisely in that 420 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:48,280 spot between. I can't do. 421 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:55,480 This on my own Lord and. I can do all. 422 00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,440 Things through Christ, who strengthens me, he aims at. 423 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,880 Exactly that. Bullseye between those two 424 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:07,960 things too much. Suffering for us to. 425 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,120 Carry in the flesh. But never enough suffering. 426 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,520 To break us. In the Spirit of God, that's the 427 00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:18,240 that's the proper dosage of pain and suffering in a in a person's 428 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:22,840 life and in the proper dosages in the hands of a good God, that 429 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:27,320 means that even the curse itself becomes an instrument of 430 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,800 salvation. It doesn't mean that the curse 431 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,000 is good. It doesn't mean that God likes 432 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,640 it. It means that God is willing to 433 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:40,800 use ugly instruments to achieve salvation in our lives as human 434 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:42,600 beings. I hate to be the one to break it 435 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:43,120 to you. We. 436 00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:46,240 Must. Taste the pain of sin in order 437 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:50,120 to grasp the severity of sin and to understand the glory of God 438 00:24:50,120 --> 00:24:52,840 if. We were to live in a world. 439 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:58,400 Without curses or consequences, we would never learn, we would 440 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,120 never grow, and. What's worse? 441 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,560 Worse than? All of the worst. 442 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,200 What would be the worst? Of all of it is that we would 443 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,200 become irredeemable beasts. Because without the pain of sin, 444 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,280 we would never learn to turn to. Jesus. 445 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:17,600 And cry out to him. We wouldn't do it. 446 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:21,520 We wouldn't do it without the thorns and the thistles and. 447 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,120 What a terrible life it would be. 448 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:32,480 To live and sin without pain. It would just. 449 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:37,240 Be a comfy Rd. that leads you straight to the gates of hell. 450 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,240 But Cush. What a terrible life. 451 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:45,120 Listen, man. I'm not trying to crush you. 452 00:25:46,120 --> 00:25:48,560 When I say these things, every word I'm saying this morning is 453 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,560 actually pretty measured and needs to be. 454 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,360 Mulled over by you, but. These types of things, they need 455 00:25:53,360 --> 00:25:55,880 to be said. So this is this is a lot to. 456 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,240 Reckon with and I understand it if it's too much. 457 00:25:58,240 --> 00:25:59,720 Put it in your back. Pocket and bring it. 458 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:01,800 Before the Lord this week. But these things need to be 459 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:02,840 said. It is. 460 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:06,760 It is. Better for men to have hard. 461 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:13,080 Work that sucks, that makes. Them turn to Jesus than to have 462 00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:15,440 effortless dream. Jobs where they remain. 463 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:22,120 Distant from Jesus it's better for women to experience pain in 464 00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:25,520 relationships and turn to. Jesus. 465 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:28,160 Than to have. Effortless. 466 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,080 Relationships and remain distant from Jesus. 467 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:33,800 Why? Because the best thing in the 468 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,040 world for you. Better than a painless life, 469 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:37,840 Better than an on. Frustrated life. 470 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:40,440 The best thing for you is a life. 471 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,440 Where you see the. Fullness. 472 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:48,600 Of the glory of God. That's better for you than a 473 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,200 life without pain. To see the. 474 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:54,800 Fullness of who God is and without the curse of sin. 475 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,720 Without the. Effects of sin in the world 476 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,640 there is no salvation I mean, the glory of salvation is 477 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,480 greater than the glory of. Living in a world without the 478 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,240 curse. Because in that. 479 00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:08,600 World you wouldn't know the. Fullness of God because you 480 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:10,040 couldn't. Know the fullness of God. 481 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,520 Right, you might know his love. His beauty, His perfection, his. 482 00:27:14,520 --> 00:27:17,880 Goodness, which is all great, but you would be. 483 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:26,400 Definitionally ignorant of His forgiveness and His mercy and 484 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,760 His grace. And that is no small part of why 485 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:32,320 God? Would sovereignly. 486 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:36,280 Allow the fall to happen because in so happening does it 487 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,800 introduce pain and suffering? Yes, tons of it. 488 00:27:39,360 --> 00:27:42,360 But to be ignorant of the grace, forgiveness, and mercy of God? 489 00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:45,640 That only comes to us through the presence of sin and the 490 00:27:45,640 --> 00:27:48,480 forgiveness of it. To be ignorant of those 491 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:51,800 qualities of God is to only see a fraction of who God. 492 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:55,120 Is. You would only see half of him 493 00:27:55,120 --> 00:27:58,240 or 1/4 of him wouldn't see the fullness of. 494 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:01,680 Them so as. Painful as the curse of sin is, 495 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:06,040 it does, in the hands of God, help us see and experience and 496 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:06,960 taste. The. 497 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:13,920 Fullness of the glory of God more and if you didn't see the 498 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:18,600 fullness of the glory. Of God, you wouldn't fall in 499 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,360 love with Him. You would fall in love with the 500 00:28:20,360 --> 00:28:28,480 world, and the world's a good friend but an abusive spouse if 501 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:32,880 the earth didn't have forms. You'd never aim at heaven, 502 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,600 right? If it didn't have. 503 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:38,360 Thistles if you felt at. Home in the world? 504 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:40,440 All the time you wouldn't. Long for Eden. 505 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:46,520 And so as painful as Genesis 3. Is we have to reckon with the 506 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,200 fact that. It's better for us to feel the. 507 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:53,960 Heat of hell on our skin than for us to just think it's safe. 508 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:57,480 To jump into the fire because there's no. 509 00:28:57,480 --> 00:28:59,360 Consequences attached to. It now we need to. 510 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,800 Feel it, Nip. And maybe even scar. 511 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,400 Our flesh a little bit, or at least singe the hairs off. 512 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,040 Of our arms and know oh I. Shouldn't, shouldn't jump into 513 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:11,400 that. Shouldn't jump into that and 514 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,080 live in that. Right. 515 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:14,040 It's like. Does God? 516 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:20,440 Does God like the curse? No, he doesn't. 517 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:22,880 But you. Can't avoid the grammatical. 518 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:24,520 Structure of these verses either. 519 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,520 I don't know if you noticed. This, but if you look at this 520 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:29,320 text and deal with. It honestly. 521 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:33,000 God is the. Active agent of administration. 522 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:36,560 You can't get around that. If you find a way, let me know. 523 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,040 Verse 15 in administering the curse, God says I will. 524 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:45,200 Verse 16 God says. I will. 525 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,280 Verse 17 It's God cursing the ground. 526 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:51,240 He's. You just can't get around this. 527 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:54,680 He is the sovereign and active agent of governance. 528 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:56,280 It's like the. World is slipping out of his 529 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:57,640 control. Here. 530 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:00,480 So does that mean that? Since. 531 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:02,680 Since God. Administers it. 532 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:04,680 Does that mean? That God likes the curse. 533 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:06,760 Like a sick. Parent who maybe? 534 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:08,840 Enjoys disciplining. Their kids too much. 535 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:15,600 No God, like anybody who has any wisdom whatsoever, has the 536 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,760 capacity to administer things. He doesn't. 537 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:23,000 Like temporally? For the sake of achieving ends 538 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:28,040 that he does like eternally. Every good leader does that. 539 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,440 Every every person with wisdom knows that. 540 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:32,360 Your kid scrapes her knee. Right. 541 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:36,800 You administer a disinfectant. Ouch. 542 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:38,240 It stings. It bubbles up. 543 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,360 Ouch. Do you like? 544 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:45,280 That it causes your child. More momentary. 545 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:47,160 Pain. You're actively administering 546 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,920 it? No, of course not. 547 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:53,720 But you are willing to. Administer something you don't. 548 00:30:53,720 --> 00:30:57,760 Like a little momentary. Pain in order to achieve 549 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:01,000 something that you do, like disinfecting the wound and make 550 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,560 sure it doesn't become irredeemably infected. 551 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,840 Right, the parent who's unwilling. 552 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:11,240 To do that is a weak. Parent who is condemning? 553 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:15,960 His child to an. Infected wound. 554 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:17,960 Because of his. Lack of nerve and and 555 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:20,080 leadership. And So what we need to see is 556 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:22,680 that God is active behind administering these curses. 557 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:28,160 But it is ultimately God's love that's operative behind the 558 00:31:28,160 --> 00:31:31,520 curse. It's God's love. 559 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,360 Does that make the effects of curse hurt less? 560 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:37,360 No, still. Hurts. 561 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:41,120 I don't like to suffer. I don't like nerve pain. 562 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:45,960 I don't like chronic pain. I don't like, I hate diseases. 563 00:31:45,960 --> 00:31:50,000 I don't like any of that stuff. Does knowing? 564 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:54,840 This help take away the pain. No it doesn't. 565 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:57,000 So what's the point in knowing this? 566 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:00,400 Because even though it doesn't take away the pain, it does 567 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:04,800 protect your hope, right? Your hope? 568 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:06,480 God's. Good. 569 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,200 Even in the midst of this and I know. 570 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:10,480 The new creation is going to be awesome. 571 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,160 And there are still going to be some pains. 572 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:16,400 And suffering that you endure. Where you will spend. 573 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:21,400 The rest of your life. Asking God why the rest of your 574 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,440 life? There are some. 575 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,600 Questions that don't have answers in this lifetime. 576 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:32,000 There are some questions. That don't get solved. 577 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,320 By information. Or chat. 578 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,840 GPT. Right, there are some questions 579 00:32:38,840 --> 00:32:43,240 that can only be endured and not answered. 580 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:45,960 Endured. With living. 581 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:49,880 Hope. Endured by longing, aching, 582 00:32:49,880 --> 00:32:52,480 looking forward to the new. Creation where the curse is. 583 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:56,000 Finally going to be lifted and we get to live in a world free 584 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:57,080 of. Sin and suffering. 585 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:00,160 You've got to fight to believe that God is kind and merciful, 586 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:04,560 even as we're subjected to living in a world that's marred 587 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:08,200 by the curse. Gosh, this is so important. 588 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,000 I'll be honest with you at the. Beginning of this sermon. 589 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:16,520 I told you my goal was for you to see the goodness and kindness 590 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:18,080 of God. Even in the midst. 591 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,760 Of his administration. Of consequences and the curse 592 00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:22,880 Where's? That. 593 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:27,400 Well, partly. It's in the text I'm not 594 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:30,400 preaching this morning. But you do see the. 595 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:35,280 Goodness and kindness of God by answering one simple. 596 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:36,600 Question. Are you guys ready for it? 597 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:42,200 Here's your one simple. Question Who and what does get? 598 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:46,040 Cursed. Did you notice? 599 00:33:46,040 --> 00:33:50,920 That I'll walk. You through it here this is I 600 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:52,320 want you to see how kind and loving and. 601 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:54,120 Patient God really is. Notice exactly. 602 00:33:54,120 --> 00:33:56,400 Who and what God curses and who God doesn't curse? 603 00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:59,920 Look at your Bible. Closely verse 14 God curses who? 604 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:05,080 The serpent. The word curse doesn't appear 605 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:08,159 again until verse. 17. What does God? 606 00:34:08,159 --> 00:34:14,520 Curse in verse 17. Ground So who does God curse 607 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:18,800 because of the fall? The serpent and the ground. 608 00:34:21,199 --> 00:34:32,199 Who does God not curse? Adam and Eve, you humanity, why 609 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:33,480 not? They committed the sin. 610 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:36,120 Why does it not? Curse the. 611 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:39,239 Fountainhead of humanity here. Why not curse Adam and Eve? 612 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:43,800 Here's the answer. Because although we will. 613 00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:48,880 Have to experience. The consequences of the curse we 614 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:53,199 will not have to bear the penalty of the curse Adam and 615 00:34:53,199 --> 00:34:55,840 Eve experienced the consequences of the curse they. 616 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:00,200 Have to live in a cursed world. But they don't actually bear the 617 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:02,840 curse. Why not as God? 618 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:08,160 Unjust plot twist. Here's where it all gets. 619 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:11,640 Good guys, ready. 5 more minutes. 620 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:13,200 Give me 5 more minutes. Plot twist. 621 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:17,320 This is how you see the goodness mercy of God. 622 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:22,400 Plot twist, God. He does not merely administer 623 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:25,240 the righteous curse. He does in Genesis 3. 624 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:28,600 What's he do? He ultimately comes in the 625 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:30,160 flesh. And he? 626 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:36,840 Himself bears that curse for us. You ever notice this in the New 627 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:38,400 Testament? The night. 628 00:35:38,400 --> 00:35:41,640 Before Jesus is crucified, he's. Praying in the Garden of 629 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:44,240 Gethsemane, he's experienced, he's under the weight of the 630 00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:46,600 curse of sin. He's he's experiencing the 631 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:48,720 penalty of sin. And what does his? 632 00:35:48,720 --> 00:35:54,520 Body release as he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane sweats, he 633 00:35:54,520 --> 00:35:57,320 perspires, he sweats drops of blood. 634 00:35:57,480 --> 00:35:59,480 Why? That's an interesting element. 635 00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:02,680 Genesis 3 the. Curse by sweat. 636 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:04,440 You're going to eat your. Bread. 637 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:07,560 What Jesus is doing, He's sweating blood because he is 638 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:11,240 literally bearing the weight of the curse for us. 639 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:16,360 Isn't that amazing? And before Jesus, before he's. 640 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:18,720 Put on a cross? What do they put on his head? 641 00:36:18,840 --> 00:36:20,800 They put on his head a crown. What's it made of? 642 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,400 Thorns. What an interesting literary 643 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:27,640 detail. I wonder why the author. 644 00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:29,920 I wonder why God, I wonder why they put. 645 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:31,680 A crown of thorns on his head, that's. 646 00:36:31,680 --> 00:36:35,040 Simple Genesis 3. What's the world now bring? 647 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:39,280 Forth thorns and thistles. So on his head. 648 00:36:39,920 --> 00:36:44,080 In a crown of thorns. Carving into his flesh, Jesus 649 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:46,720 is. Bearing the curse of sin. 650 00:36:46,720 --> 00:36:50,200 For us by wearing that. Crown on his thorns. 651 00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:52,800 He literally wears the curse on his head. 652 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:55,040 That's what the cross of Christ. Is. 653 00:36:55,720 --> 00:37:00,120 The cross of Christ is. Literally Genesis 3 fulfill the 654 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:01,960 cross is literally Genesis 3 with. 655 00:37:01,960 --> 00:37:05,440 Skin on. The cross is literally Genesis 3 656 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,400 with arms and legs. It is God himself. 657 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,560 Enduring. The consequences of. 658 00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:15,720 Our sin, it's got himself bearing. 659 00:37:15,720 --> 00:37:18,560 The curse that God administered like. 660 00:37:18,880 --> 00:37:22,640 How awesome is that? It's just, it's just, it's. 661 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:24,120 Amazing. That means that if. 662 00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:27,480 Jesus bore the curse for us. That means that you don't have 663 00:37:27,480 --> 00:37:29,000 to bear the curse. That's why. 664 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:32,480 Galatians says that Jesus became a curse for us. 665 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:34,520 Why? So that we might become the 666 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:37,320 righteousness of God. What a deal. 667 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:41,720 He gets our curse and we get to know him as God. 668 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:44,320 What an amazing deal. That's the gospel. 669 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,920 He became a curse so that we might know the righteousness of 670 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:50,480 God. That's why God doesn't curse 671 00:37:50,480 --> 00:37:55,120 Adam and Eve. He doesn't curse is the serpent 672 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:57,720 in the ground to Adam and Eve, although they have to. 673 00:37:57,720 --> 00:37:59,120 Experience the consequences of the. 674 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:01,240 Curse. What's happening behind this is 675 00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:03,720 God is saying, I'll take your. Curse. 676 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:06,320 I'm gonna let it. Land on the serpent. 677 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:08,960 I'm gonna let it land on the ground. 678 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:09,920 But I'll take. Yours. 679 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:12,760 Give it to me. I'll carry it. 680 00:38:13,440 --> 00:38:15,040 I'll take it upon my head. I'll. 681 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:18,400 Take it upon my shoulders. It's, it's mine, God said. 682 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:22,720 I will damn myself to save my people. 683 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:25,880 What a God we worship. Amen. 684 00:38:26,960 --> 00:38:30,920 Who could ever. Invent a God like this, who 685 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:33,680 could ever want? A God who is not like Jesus. 686 00:38:33,720 --> 00:38:36,480 This is the most profound. Good news in the entire. 687 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:38,040 Universe. And it doesn't mean that we 688 00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:39,560 don't still feel the weight of that curse. 689 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:40,920 We do. We feel it in our aging. 690 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:43,400 We feel it in our broken and unfulfilled relationships, 691 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:46,440 through disease, through loss, through chronic pain. 692 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:48,120 I know you feel it. I know it. 693 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:49,520 Hurts. I know it hurts a lot. 694 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:54,240 I know it hurts like hell, but because of Jesus if you turn to. 695 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:55,960 Jesus in the midst. Of that suffering and pain. 696 00:38:56,480 --> 00:39:01,120 It'll still hurt, but it won't destroy you, won't rule over 697 00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:02,520 you. It won't be your Lord. 698 00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:03,920 It won't be your. King. 699 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:07,440 Jesus will be, and in Jesus hands he will. 700 00:39:07,440 --> 00:39:10,040 Use that pain as an instrument to point. 701 00:39:10,040 --> 00:39:12,080 You towards himself, the one who knows the. 702 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:15,760 Fullness of pain and the curse. Jesus knows what a slipped disc 703 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:18,400 in your neck feels like. He knows what the disease feels 704 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:19,840 like. He knows what the nerve pain 705 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:21,840 feels like. He knows what it's like to sweat 706 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:23,080 blood. He knows the pain. 707 00:39:25,720 --> 00:39:28,440 By suffering. On the cross, I'm absorbing the 708 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:29,440 curse for you. What? 709 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:32,600 Has he accomplished? He's opened up the way. 710 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:36,600 To a new. Creation one without the curse. 711 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:40,760 One without pain, 1 without. Suffering a future life where 712 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:43,160 you are resurrected. Heaven and earth, finally. 713 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:45,760 Come together, new creation is established. 714 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:48,080 And you finally and forever live in a world. 715 00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:51,680 Saturated completely by the joy of the Lord, free from. 716 00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:54,440 Pain in the new. Creation there is no longer. 717 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:58,320 Any need for pain. There's no utility in suffering 718 00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:01,720 in the new creation because our nature will no longer be marred 719 00:40:01,720 --> 00:40:03,200 by sin. It'll be. 720 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:05,400 Restored, not just back. To the goodness of. 721 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:09,800 Adam and Eve's good human. Nature, but to a perfected. 722 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,360 Nature that. Doesn't even have the. 723 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:17,160 Capacity to sin and then we will live in a. 724 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:24,080 World free from thorns free from thistles from. 725 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:26,760 Pain. What a glorious savior. 726 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:28,680 We have in Jesus Christ. Amen. 727 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:36,080 The pain's real, but the pain won't last forever. 728 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,400 The pain won't last forever. Soldier, the pain won't. 729 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:42,120 Last forever. Queen. 730 00:40:42,720 --> 00:40:44,520 The pain won't last forever, King. 731 00:40:45,680 --> 00:40:49,480 Jesus will so choose carefully which. 732 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:55,640 Of those two you worship. Heavenly Father, I pray for just 733 00:40:55,640 --> 00:40:57,200 a. Unique experience of your 734 00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:01,240 goodness and and mercy. Bible verses like this are so 735 00:41:01,240 --> 00:41:02,880 interesting because it shows us how. 736 00:41:03,240 --> 00:41:06,960 Realistic the Bible is. It's so honest about. 737 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:11,520 Pain and suffering and hurt, those things are real. 738 00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:13,400 And they're not. Outside of God's control. 739 00:41:14,400 --> 00:41:18,400 But it's also amazing how much hope is just kind of woven like 740 00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:20,280 into. The background of these verses 741 00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:22,640 it. Shows us you're restrained 742 00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:24,800 judgment. That even though we. 743 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:29,320 Deserve to bear the curse all. We have to do is feel. 744 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:32,360 The effects of it and you bear it. 745 00:41:32,360 --> 00:41:34,440 Yourself and so I pray that that would just elicit. 746 00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:37,160 Worship. In awe and wonder from. 747 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:38,480 Us. And so it's in the precious name 748 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:40,080 of Jesus that all God's people prayed. 749 00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:44,320 Amen. Let's stand and let's worship 750 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:46,080 this God who bears the curse for us.