Chapter 3: The Promise Keeper
I spoke everything into creation, except the first man that I formed from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. Then I rested on the seventh day – a day which is to be kept holy. But how quickly things changed. I inspired the author of my book to open the next chapter with the crafty serpent. The Hebrew word for “crafty” is arum. Perhaps this translation is not as descriptive as shrewd or cunning. But regardless of the definition, I meant what I said regarding the most crafty of all the wild animals.
The father of all lies began to interrogate the woman by saying, “Did God say…?” The crafty serpent then lied to the woman, “you will NOT surely die.” (emphasis added) Thus, My one absolute was broken like potsherd (a broken piece of pottery). And now things will change, but My promises cannot be broken. Yes, my promises are as unchangeable as the sun and moon that I created. As I entered the garden in the cool of the day, I had to call out to the man and woman, “where are you?” The man blamed the woman, and she the serpent. But I made a promise to them, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, protoevangelium or the first gospel) Yes, this is My pronouncement of my plan of salvation for mankind.
While the man and woman will struggle, as will their offspring, I AM always there to console and comfort in every kind of distress. I will appear when I need to, in person or by way of one of My servants in the times to come. Human struggles will continue as sin manifests itself in a variety of ways – including murder by a jealous brother. But I will grant favor to their parents in the gift of another son who will carry on the family line and conclude with the birth of My beloved Son, the promise of the ages!
From God to Me:
The early chapters of Genesis continue to bother me. Why? God in His perfect creation and then, BAM! The crafty serpent upsets the apple cart, so to speak. The woman acknowledged God’s command of not eating of a certain tree, yet, its beauty amplified by the serpent’s craftiness, caused the woman to take and eat; then give to her husband.
As I pondered God’s next steps of His visit to them in the garden, I began to compare His action to that of parents and a child who had broken a rule or command. Does the parent ignore the child due to their misdeed? No, rather the love of the parent continues, even with some form of punishment for their indiscretion. Yes, the parent’s love never ceases rather continues to grow.
God’s love for His creation never ceases to amaze me. Yes, His promises are sure as an arrow to its target. God’s love was shown quickly on His visit to Adam and Eve in the garden. How so? Well, He performed the first sacrifice and made garments to cover their nakedness. Their awareness of their own nakedness was a symbol of their total separation from God. Yes, sin left them naked as a chasm leaves one stranded from one point to another. God’s clothing them was like the forgiving and loving parent to child.
But perhaps more important was His promise to provide a solution to sin. That was indeed the most perfect gift! But God also recognized sin’s ugliness as Cain murdered his brother. Again, God responded by gifting Adam and Eve another son that was to be the foretaste of “The Son of promise,”
This “Promise Keeper” will continue to show His loving kindness throughout the Old Testament. We will see the Noahic covenant, the Abrahamic covenant, and also Moses, followed by David…. Yes, the Promise Keeper has one personality, even considering the sinful human condition. Thankfully, God continues to remind me that I am His child having been found blameless (closed the sin chasm that separates us from God) due to the blood of the perfect Lamb of God who died once for all. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
