Genesis 3:14-19 The Curse CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

The devil, the woman, the man, and all nature were all affected by the curse that resulted from the fall. The Lord dealt with the Devil first, since he started the sin. Then he pronounced the sentence against the woman since she was the first to fall. And finally, he dealt with Adam and the ground from which he came.

THE SERPENT

Cursed above cattle – The Lord cursed the serpent above all cattle and beasts and made him to crawl on his belly. He was cursed above cattle because the devil was a cherub (Eze. 28:14) whose face (Eze. 10:14) was that of an ox (Eze. 1:10). Thus, when Aaron and Jeroboam made images of him they made calves (Ex. 32:4; 1 Ki. 12:28). In Job, he is called “behemoth” which means “cattle,” (Job 40:15).

Cursed above beasts – He was cursed above beasts because he is a lion (1 Pet. 5:8) and a dragon (Rev. 12:3,9). He is typified by beasts (lion, bear, leopard, dreadful beast) in Dan. 7:3-7, by a scarlet colored beast in Rev. 17:3, and by “the beast” in Rev. 13:1,11,17.

Cursed to crawl on belly – This indicates that the serpent was created as an upright being and was only made to crawl as a result of the curse. The curse on the serpent continues through the 1000-year reign of Christ (Is. 65:25).

Enmity with the woman – The serpent became the woman’s enemy, which is seen most notably in Rev. 12:1-4,13-15.

Enmity between their seeds – This shows that the Devil has a seed and that the woman has a seed. The Devil’s seed is found spiritually in the Pharisees in Jn. 8:44, and in the lost in 1 Jn. 3:10. The Devil’s seed is found literally in Cain in 1 Jn. 3:12. The woman’s seed is Jesus Christ, since for her to have “seed” he would have to come by a virgin birth (Is. 7:14, Gal. 4:4). The Devil bruised the Lord’s heel at Calvary (Ps. 22:16). The Lord will bruise the Devil’s head at the 2nd Advent (Rom. 16:20, Hab. 3:13).

THE WOMAN

Multiplied sorrow and conception – The multiplied sorrow is most noticeably seen in the recurring menstrual cycle. Multiple forms of birth control are used to reduce the multiplied conception (see Gen. 19:31-36; Gen. 38:16,27; 2 Sam. 11:4-5).

Sorrow in childbirth – This results primarily from pain (Jn. 16:21). Some experience post-partum depression.

Subject to husband – The woman’s husband is supposed to rule over her (1 Cor. 11:3, Eph. 5:22-24, Col. 3:18, 1 Tim. 2:11,12).

THE MAN

Cursed ground – The ground was cursed as a result of Adam’s sin (Rom. 8:20-22). Since Adam came from the ground, the curse was on him. As our substitute, Christ took the curse for us (Gal. 3:13).

Sorrowful labour – It is travail for the man to work in order to eat (Job 5:7, Ecc. 2:22-23). And salvation doesn’t lift this (1 Thes. 4:11-12, 2 Thes. 3:10-13). As our substitute, Christ was a man of sorrows (Is. 53:3).

Thorns and thistles – Men must continually work the soil to keep out the weeds and thorns (Is. 5:6; Prov. 24:30-31). As our substitute, Christ was made to wear a crown of thorns (Matt. 27:29).

Sweat – The labour of men requires sweat. Men whose jobs don’t make them sweat must sweat in exercise to stay healthy. As our substitute, Jesus’ labour caused him to sweat more than all men (Lk. 22:44).

Return to the dust – The man was made out of the dust and that’s what he becomes when he dies (Gen. 2:7; Job 34:15; Ecc. 3:20, 12:7). Unlike us, Jesus’ body did not begin to corrupt because he had never sinned (Acts 2:31).

CONCLUSION

Salvation doesn’t lift the effects of the curse on the flesh; it only delivers us from the consequences of the curse in eternity.