A Sad Song With a Ray of Hope
Scripture Reading — Genesis 3:1-19
Cursed is the ground because of you. . . . Dust you are and to dust you will return.
How radically the song about creation in Genesis has changed—from “very good” to “cursed.” What has happened?
Genesis 2 retells the creation story with a special emphasis on man and woman as the pinnacle of God’s creation. But trouble entered Paradise. Satan, who once belonged to the angelic beings who worshiped the Creator, had foolishly, pridefully, tried to take God’s place. From that moment on the war between good and evil was on, and God ousted Satan from his presence (see Revelation 12).
Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God, and by their disobedience they brought destruction and death to God’s amazing creation. This sad song of curses sums up the drastic results of human disobedience.
Yet all was not lost—not then and not now. God’s frightening song shines a ray of hope. Eve’s offspring would one day crush the head of the serpent. And that day came when Jesus, born of Mary, triumphed over Satan and paid the price to redeem us from the curse of sin and death. Through his death on a cross for us and by his resurrection, Jesus brought us victory over sin, death, and Satan.
Today we can still say, “It is good,” and we can sing a song of redemption, because God is good.
We thank you, Lord God, that although we live in a sinful world that tries to crush us, we have hope because the final victory is promised through the finished work of Jesus, our Savior. In his name we pray. Amen.
About the author — John Van Schepen
Dr. John Van Schepen is a retired pastor who served churches in Washington, Wisconsin, Indiana, Oregon and California. He and his wife, Willie, have been blessed with five children and several grandchildren.
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