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Genesis 3,12 – The Same Story; Different Characters
One of the ways the Holy Spirit teaches, is by telling the same stories over and over using different characters, sometimes with different emphases or the same. This shows the hand of God in telling these narratives. Which story comes to mind when I list the following specifics:
It’s a story about a husband and wife who had plenty and were given land. There is a lie told about something beautiful. Both curses and death are part of the narrative. And most importantly it is story is about descendants that will bless.
If you haven’t fit out, these are the stories of Adam and Eve, and Abram and Sarai. This journey of discovery started by noticing the word curse.
Linguistic Connections:
• Adamah/ground/earth – 3:17,19,23; 12:3
• Anar/curse – 3:14,17; 12:3
• Zerah/seed/descendants – 3:15; 12:7
• Naga/touch/struck – 3:3; 12:17
• Laqach/take – 3:619,22,23; 12:5,15,19
• Ab/father – 2:24; 12:1
Conceptual Connections
• Land from God given – Eden (2:8) and Promise Land (12:1)
• Death – “eat and die” (2:17); “they will kill me” (12:12)
• Animals brought to Adam and Abram (2:19; 2:16)
• Stories of husband and wife – Adam and Eve; Abram and Sarai
• Leave fathers (2:24; 12:1).
• Lies told by Satan and Abram (3:4; 12:13)
• Fruit “delightful to look at” (3:6); Sarai “beautiful” (12:11,14)
• Expulsion – Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden (3:23); Abram and Sarai are forced to leave Egypt (12:20).
• Rejection – Adam and Eve choose the forbidden tree over the acceptable trees (3:2-3); Abram and Sarai, after arriving in their new homeland leave without God’s permission (12:10).
• Messianic promises (3:15; 12:3)
• Taking what isn’t right (3:6; 12:15)
• Consequences for wrongful actions: curses (3:16-19) and plagues (12:17)
• Opposites – Eden is filled with food; there is famine in Canaan (2:2; 12:10).
• Opposites – Eve lied to and is deceived; Sarai lies knowing the truth (3:4; 12:13)
There are major differences between the two stories, as if one is the reversal of the other:
• God curses the body and ground because of Adam and Eve’s sin; but God will curse those who treat Abram with contempt.
• God expels the first couple from their home land; while Abram and Sarai leave their home voluntarily for a new home.
Most importantly though, there is hope for the future as God plans on blessing people through a yet unnamed messiah. Because of God’s grace, we find Jesus.
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