06/12/2019 SWEAT
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
[King James translation]
Summary
It is interesting to compare humanity’s quality of life before the fall (before Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD) and afterward. Before the fall, Adam and Eve lived in GOD’s garden. Eden was a GODly place. It was a beautiful space, created and designed by GOD. GOD made all sorts of trees grow out the ground. And, the trees produced the choicest of fruit. Rivers flowed out of Eden so that everything was naturally watered.
Eden was a place of peace and comfort. It was an easy life. Most importantly, it was a place where humanity could be with THE CREATOR. In Eden, Adam could commune with his creator, talk with GOD, walk with GOD and do the work GOD designed specifically for him. It was ideal.
But paradise was soon lost. As a result of disobedience, and generations of male and female acts of disobediences thereafter, humanity separated itself from GOD. One of the consequences of disobedience was that humans would no longer be able to eat from GOD’s special garden. Adam and Eve would have to plant their own garden. Adam and Eve would have to sweat. They would have plant fields. And, it would not be easy. Adam would face obstacles. Instead of the beautiful trees and the easy accessible fruit dangling from branches, Adam would encounter “thorns and thistles.” (See, Genesis 3:18.) Adam would have to deal with “the dust” and “the ground”---his very own nature, trying to live---trying to eat. Living outside of GOD’s presence would be hard. It would be frustrating.
Yet, one of the greatest lessons of the Bible is that the story did not end with “the fall.” Because of GOD’s MERCY and GRACE, GOD continued to provide:
- When the Israelites were sweating in the wilderness, complaining and unhappy about all of the obstacles in their lives, GOD rained down bread from heaven. (See Exodus 16:4)
- Job’s “thorns and thistles” seemed to be never-ending. They attacked his flesh and his spirit. He could find no comfort---not even from his friends and his wife. It seemed like everything he had already worked and sweated for just disappeared overnight. Job’s sweat was also the sweat of illness. Job’s circumstances seemed so discouraging and futile that Job even started to question his own existence, because, in his suffering mind, death seemed better than life. But, in the midst of his despair, GOD found Job, talked to him and reminded him who GOD IS.
There are many other examples and Biblical witnesses to GOD’s AMAZING GRACE. The greatest act of GRACE was GOD sending HIS SON, JESUS, THE CHRIST to “redeem mankind. JESUS took the thorns and thistles of life, which he wore in HIS suffering and then turned them into a crown of glory and victory, when HE then rose, with all authority.
JESUS sweated too. In a “prayer garden” called Gethsemane, in HIS agony, HIS sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground. (See, Luke 22:39-44) Yet, HE continued to commune with GOD. HE continued to pray. And GOD, in HIS GRACE, heard HIM. (See, John 11:41)
Yes, the Bible has a lot to say about sweat, the thorns, and thistles of life and GOD’s GRACE.