Mother of All the Living

Last night in my class, we had a guest speaker, Dr. Bruce Ware, who is one of Theology professors on staff here at the Seminary. He is a gifted speaker and theologian whose primary area of focus is the study of God Himself. He is also my Sunday School teacher! Obviously, I'd been looking forward to hearing his lecture on "Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and the Created Order."

Here is something that just fascinated me -- and perhaps you've already seen this and it won't be new to you -- Adam named Eve after the fall. Up to that point, she was merely called "the woman" which is what Adam named her right after her creation. Immediately after God curses Adam and Eve because of their sin -- telling them they will die -- Adam "called his wife's name Eve because she was the mother of all the living". She was named mother of all the living even though at that moment she began dying.

Why is that significant? It's obviously an amazing contradiction of terms! Dr. Ware pointed out that you can see the mercy of God in the very center of the curse (Gen 3:15): "I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel." This great verse which promises redemption is often referred to as the first time Christ is specifically pointed to in the Bible, which is a beautiful promise all mankind may cling to.

Here is the part that I never really considered before: Adam knew it too. He got it! He heard the promise and his newly-fallen mind was somehow able to grasp a bit of its weight, and therefore, he turned to his wife and named her "Mother of all the living". Through her had come the curse (even though Adam was held responsible and bore the heavier punishment), and through her would come the One who breaks the curse!

Isn't that beautiful? Is not our God merciful? Rejoice in that today and worship Him!