The judgment on men was very different than the one on women. As you start learning about it, you will begin to see why it is so different. You will see the theme of man’s judgment and the pain he will feel because of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden.
Judgments Are Real
While the judgments may not be actually unknown, they are mostly ignored. Every woman and man who has, is, and will live – is subject to the judgments issued by God. Understanding these judgments is like unlocking the secrets of what drives and motivates bad relationships, especially bad marriages. As you begin to grasp these all-compassing, profound judgments, you will see them operating in your life in a real way. Just knowing the judgments is most of what you need to identify the difficulties and issues in relationships.
Each time I teach the judgments, it reminds me of how real the Bible is. When you view what God reveals to you through the lens of relationships, it makes His Word even more practical and understandable. The judgments are particularly helpful to me because the effects are so easy to see. However, the judgments are not taught in a way that helps people recognize them in relationships and marriages. Unfortunately, they are too often unknown or ignored.
The Judgment on Men
Genesis 3:16-19 will impact every man and woman on the face of the earth until Christ comes again. Every relationship struggle has a link back to these judgments. It has proven true in most (probably ALL) of the discussions that Louie and I have had with couples that are struggling in their relationship.
Unfortunately, like so much of God’s Word, people often do not consider it relevant for today or believe it is no longer in effect. You may refer to Genesis as that “creation story part of the Bible”, but the designs and judgments are authentic. These judgments impact your life right now unless you are walking with the Lord and doing what He asks of real men and women.
So, the man’s judgment:
Genesis 3:17-19 (NKJV)—Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Theme of the Judgment on Men
Again, remember the context. Adam and Eve sinned. God issued a judgment on Satan and Eve; now He turns to Adam. God does all things perfectly, right? So, the very order in which He pronounces the judgments is essential.
When God issued the judgment to Adam, starting in verse 17, to me, it is as if He is saying this…
“Finally, Adam, you were given the authority to have dominion with Eve over the entire earth. Instead, you abdicated your leadership, listened to, and followed Eve, not Me, and now this entire earth is cursed to be under the dominion of Satan.”
Scripture specifically states that Eve was deceived, but Adam was not. If you looked at this conversation as a human father talking to his son, it might be, “Adam – you and I had a clear conversation about My expectations for you and Eve. You knew you were not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but you did it anyway. There are terrible consequences for disobedience, and it’s going to be painful!”
Like the woman’s judgment, the more you understand this judgment, the more aware you will be of how much it affects your life and then, hopefully, turn to and choose God’s way instead.
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abdicating leadership at home, fulfilling work, not leading at home, pain with work, significance, significance with work and activities, TV0032, unfulfilling work