This is an essay for lesson 5 of the RPC 10th grade English class.
The first three chapters of Genesis recite one of the most well-known stories in the Bible; creation. These three chapters provide a lot of insight into the relationship between God, Adam, Eve and the Devil, and set in motion the rest of history.
First is God’s relationship with Adam. God created Adam to take dominion over the earth. “Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) Man’s purpose is to take dominion over the earth. Adam also received God’s blessing on this task through the command, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28) This command, directly from the mouth of God, is known as the Dominion Mandate; a command to act as a governor or steward on behalf of God. Man is more, or less, the middleman in the hierarchy made just a little lower than the angels, and set over all creation. (Hebrews 2:7). Besides this unique position, Adam differed from the rest of creation, being made in the image and likeness of God. He formed man from the dust of earth, and God breathed life into him. (Genesis 2:7) All the rest of creation was spoken into existence, but man was created uniquely. This “uniqueness” resulted in nothing being comparable to him; nothing suitable to be his helper. Seeing this, God took one of Adam’s ribs and created a woman. (Genesis 2:18, 21-22) David O. McKay argues the significance of woman being taken from Adam’s ribs with, “Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him.” Adam would name her Eve, because she would be the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20) These two people, Adam and Eve, would be father and mother of all humanity. She would serve God by partaking in Adam’s calling to subdue the earth.
The Devil, also known as Lucifer or Satan, comes into the picture after God made Eve. In all the Bible, there is nothing positive said about him. He is known as the “father of lies”, cunning and evil. (John 8:44) He is the most powerful angel mentioned in the Bible, and even Michael the arc angel wouldn’t dare bring accusation against him, but said “The Lord rebuke you!” (Zechariah 3:2) Other than his power, and cunning deception he is probably best known for his pride. With all the power given to Satan, he believed he could dethrone God. (Isaiah 14:13-14) The Devil throughout the Bible and all of history would at any cost try to dethrone God, and destroy His work. The first recorded attempt at this would be in the Garden of Eden, when he approached Eve and tempted her to eat the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 3:1) This was the one fruit God commanded man not to eat, but when Eve saw it looked good, she ate of it and gave some to Adam. (Genesis 2:17, 3:6) This pattern of finding people and attempting to devour and corrupt God’s creation would continue long after Adam and Eve, with most prominent figures being Job, David, and even Jesus Christ. (1st Peter 5:8, Job 1: 6-22, Matthew 4:1-11) Following the crime, God would lay a curse on every participant. (Genesis 3:14-19) Satan’s head would be bruised by Eve’s future seed (Christ and the church); Eve would desire to rule over her husband and have painful childbirths; and Adam’s work would be toilsome. Dr. Gary North points out that because of Adam rebelling against God by taking off the forbidden fruit, creation which he had dominion over, would now rebel against him. Formerly work was easy, crops were abundant and nature was cooperative; but now there would be thorns and thistles, and creation would constantly work against him.
These three chapters in Genesis prove God is all powerful. Though Satan may try to be like God, he will fail. Eve’s descendant Christ will reign triumphant and Satan’s work will be in vain. Also, God can curse Satan and Satan can do nothing about it, which is further evidence of God’s supremacy. God is on top. Man is beneath God, meant to represent creation. And Satan is in the middle, feuding with Christ and the church. Satan may sway men, but he will be subdued by God.
Written by, Asher Sisneros. 10/19/0/2022
Asher Sisneros 