Genesis 4:1a
Now Adam knew Eve his wife…
Knew, is a polite way of referring to marital intimacy.
So, in a perfect world, Genesis 4:1 would follow the last verse of chapter two. It would sound something like this.
They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. And Adam knew Eve, and she conceived, and bore lots of children, and they all lived happily ever after. Genesis 2:25, 4:1.
So, now, instead of our first family looking like, Father Knows Best, it looks like the Adam’s (dysfunctional) Family.
Adam knew his wife and she conceived…
Finally, the manifestation of God’s first command to man. Be fruitful and multiply. Genesis 1:28.
We don’t know if this is the consummation, the first time; but it is the first time mentioned. That is no accident.
The timing is interesting.
After giving her a name (Genesis 3:20), she gave him a child.
After paying attention to her–he knew her.
After he got to know her–then, he got to know her.
Look closer.
After leaving home, to make a home of their own, she conceived. (At the end of chapter three, God gave them a new wardrobe, and an eviction notice.)
This pattern and principle was prophesied in the pre-fall picture perfect paradise of chapter two.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24.
Man shall leave and cleave to his wife.
After leaving and cleaving, she received and conceived, and conceived again, and again… The mother of all living. The definition of Eve; living.
The die is cast.
The very first son, good or bad, for better or worse, follows the pattern. After leaving home, Cain knew his wife and she conceived, Genesis 4:16-17.
The foundation is laid.
Man shall leave and cleave to his wife.
This principle projects all the way to Jesus. He mentions it when questioned about marriage (divorce). Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:7-8. And then He adds: What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.
The leaving and cleaving principle is also quoted in a teaching about marriage in Ephesians 5:31.
Here in Genesis, the seed is planted, we see the first sprout, but in Ephesians we can see the whole tree.
It’s worth turning there to look.
The fruit is hanging in verse twenty-five:
Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself for her. Ephesians 5:25.
Have you ever noticed, when it comes to God’s love, there’s a common thread?
Selfless, giving.
Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the Church and gave Himself…
For God so loved the world that He gave, His only…John 3:16.
What does God’s love look like?
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails… 1 Cor. 13:4-8a.
We’d do well to feed on those lines until we become them.
Notice the middle of verse five. Love does not seek its own. Selfless. Godly loving is not about what I can get, but about what I can give.
Now back to Ephesians five.
The next two verses in Ephesians 5:26-27, reveal there’s a Divine Eternal Purpose for husbands to love like Christ. (It’s more than just staying out of the doghouse; more than happy-wife-happy-life).
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26-27.
It is to prepare the bride to meet her Savior; as a glorious bride without spot or wrinkle.
Which fits the very definition of Adam’s original role to tend and keep the garden, a husbandman.
A husband’s love is to give himself to preparing his wife and family so they are gloriously ready, without spot or wrinkle, to meet their Savior.
Now if you’re thinking, HA! That’s the biggest secret of all time, a great mystery. I’ve never seen anything like it. Never saw my dad, or husband, or any man live like that.
Don’t get discouraged. You’re right. It is a mystery. But notice directly following our leave and cleave verse in Ephesians 5:31 the mystery is revealed.
Ephesians 5:32.
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
The love between a husband and wife, is really meant to be a picture and pattern of Christ and the Church. The Bride of Christ.
Wives, don’t shoot your husband because he doesn’t measure up.
Husbands, don’t beat yourself up, for not measuring up.
This is not a prerequisite that must be acquired, but one to which you should aspire.
Okay, back to Genesis.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived…
Do you think God had the talk about the birds and bees?
Did Adam and Eve watch and wonder why her belly was getting so big?
Was Adam thinking, she ate us out of house and home, now she’s eaten herself out of her new wardrobe.
Was Eve saying, “I don’t know what they are, but I sure could go for some pickles and ice cream?”
…and bore Cain, and said, “ I have acquired a man from the Lord.”
Cain means, acquired. They were probably thinking, we’ve acquired the Seed that will crush the serpent and reverse the curse.
They held their baby boy thinking they were raising up the deliverer, but actually, they were raising the very first murderer.
Eve conceived again and gave birth to Abel. Genesis 4:2. The meaning Abel is uncertain, but said to mean, breath, or vanity (as in waste).
Well, his life on earth was but a breath.
Cain killed him.
Adam and Eve only thought they were raising the Seed, to deliver them, but they were actually just, raising Cain. As long as they were able.
So far the batting average for the human race isn’t so great.
God’s first two people broke the only rule on the planet.
The very first kid out of the box killed the second.
You’d think Cain would’ve been the best of the best. His parents started out knowing no sin; they walked and talked with God. Cain’s Grandpa was, God.
But no. Even that seemingly picture perfect family blew it.
The die is cast. Our family tree is cracked. Dysfunctional at best.
You’d think God would squash the whole pile of clay and start over.
But He doesn’t. God’s not a quitter, and God’s not done. With that family, or yours.
Don't quit. No matter how bad your situation, no matter how dysfunctional; hold on. God’s not done. This is not fairytale, but there is a happy ending.
Leap frog to the end of chapter four.
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.
And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:25-26.
No one would've blamed them if they did; but Adam and Eve didn't give up. They planted another seed.
And revival was born. Men began to call on the name of the Lord. This was the first revival.
Seth was born.
The seed from which the Seed will come.
The Seed who crushes the serpent’s head under a stone rolled from a tomb.
The Seed who’s coming soon.
The Seed who makes all things new.
The Seed who’s knocking, waiting, watching to see if you will choose to be among the seed that calls on the name of the LORD.
The Seed who’ll one day, mournfully, say, to those who won’t answer, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” Matthew 7:21-23.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the courage to keep going, to plant one more seed. Give us a God’s eye view, an eternal perspective, so we can faithfully endure the dysfunction of today; for the joy of our Divine Destiny tomorrow.
We love You, forever.
Amen.
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And Adam knew his wife, again, Genesis 4
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