In my previous blog, I asked and answered the question, “What are the first words spoken by God to a human being?”
The answer? Not Genesis 1:28, but Genesis 2:16.
Genesis 1:28 was spoken to Adam and Eve, and thus chronologically had to occur in the context of Genesis 2:21-25.
Think about the implications of this.
Immediately before the Serpent tempts Eve and Adam, God tells Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and multiple: fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Many have wondered how Eve heard the words God told Adam in Genesis 2:16-17 about all the free-to-eat trees and the one forbidden-to-eat tree. Obviously she had heard, since she (mis-quotes) God. So, either God told her but it is not recorded, or Adam told her. Either way, she was told.
But more pertinent to this discussion is that we do know what she was told by God before the Serpent tempted her. “Fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Ringing in Eve’s ears, and Adam’s, should have been the words “Rule over!”
Subtly tempted by he Serpent who was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made, Adam and Eve should have continuously reminded themselves, “Rule over!”
And what about us?
Ringing in our ears do we hear the empowering words “Rule over!”
When we feel like life is too much, when we are overwhelmed, when we are tempted, do we give in and give up, or do we rule over?
