Feminism and Femininity – The Grace of Judgement

PART 1 OF 7

Genesis 3:15

I have been challenged to give further consideration to a topic which has become central to my life and theology. It is amazing to hear from God! In our life journey, we ought to learn to be sensitive to the circumstances we find ourselves in. We ought to recognise and realise that God is directing our paths. Therefore, to trust in him with all our heart and acknowledge him in all our ways.¹ In practical words, to see God in every single detail and live accordingly.

I have learned so much from the first three chapters of Genesis that it has expanded my theological horizon. The more time I spent in the creation and the fall account, the more I learned that it speaks into every topic about God’s character and message for humanity and each person. I ended up establishing hermeneutical safeguards and learned to hear what God says. Once the spoken message was understood by reasoning with the Speaker, that was when practical steps towards what it means were taken.

It is often emphasised to read our Bible. However, I think we ought to allow God to speak through the reading of his Word. It ought to be not just an open book, but an interaction with its Author. And the conversation should not end once the Book is closed. But our delight must continue throughout the day and the night.² I think that’s what is meant by the good ground where the seed was sown.³ Meditating on God’s word is just like a seed’s germination. It will, in the end, produce that good fruit of understanding.

Grace against Sin

One fundamental principle I learned from the book of Genesis was that God’s grace was present from the creation of the Universe. It is often portrayed as if grace is the answer to the fall, sin and corruption. Such as a reaction motivated in God by the human fall into sin through disobedience. However, I think the Bible teaches that grace is not such a thing. Grace comes before sin and goes beyond it. God did not react to the human fallen condition, but rather put himself into it. So when the apostle Paul, moved by the Holy Ghost, tells the Ephesians that by grace through faith one is saved⁴, that statement is fundamental to Christianity and a pillar of the Bible. Because it says that faith is dependent on grace and not the other way around. Hence, grace is independent of anything in the human; therefore, having the transforming power from death to life, eternal in Christ Jesus.

Adam and Eve were spoken to and witnessed God’s grace. In a situation where judgment prevailed and each of them, including the Serpent, was given the death penalty, God remains the Sovereign Judge. In Genesis chapter three, we see and hear God speaking judgment to the Serpent, the woman and Adam. I would like you to observe what happened in the midst of that judgment.

Sovereign Judgement

First of all, it is only God speaking, the Sovereign Judge. The audience stands in awe and silence. Without disagreeing or opposing the sentence. Nor the outcome of it, nor the future implications. And such a picture speaks powerfully of who God is. His right to judge what he created is not rooted in God being the Creator. Rather, God is God and therefore exposing and revealing his righteousness in creation, in judgment and in redemption. God is not limited by the creation, but the Universe is defined by its Creator. God dwells outside of anything created. So when he exercises the attribute of the Judge, he does so independently of creation. Justified in his nature and eternal existence.

Secondly, it is notable to observe that God’s judgment in Genesis chapter 3 goes beyond fairness and responsibility. Because it is rooted in God and not motivated by the creation and the fall, grace is abundant. We ought not to take lightly what is said in Genesis 3:15. I think that it is fundamental to the Universe and to Christianity. Firstly, it speaks of redemption. Then it speaks of the coming of Christ through the seed of the woman. In this one statement, God is condensing the whole redemption plan by promising the Messiah. By prophesying the incarnation through the seed of the woman. By going beyond the cross and the grave to the final days of Christ. When the Serpent will be judged and crushed under the feet of Christ the Redeemer.

Picture in Picture

Such scenery ought to leave any listener in awe and silence. I can only picture how Adam, Eve and the Serpent may have reacted to such a promise. What they might have felt in their hearts, what thoughts might have disturbed their minds. But in all this, grace prevailed.

Nonetheless, I would like to draw your attention to, and further understand, what God says, especially to the woman. By reflecting on this utterly beautiful promise made to the Serpent, the man and the woman. By allowing our hearts, minds, souls, and will to be exposed to who God is. We have to see and hear what God is saying beyond the mere words, and let the actions utter the message as well.

We will see in this series how the Sovereign Speaker seeks to expose the powerful Redemption story of the Bible. This involves more than what, perhaps, at a first glance, is seen. That women play and have played a vital role. Therefore, the message to send into the world is the invaluable worth of women in the eyes of God. And the significance of their role in His redemptive purposes.

Bible References

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 ↩︎
2. Psalm 1:2 ↩︎
3. Luke 8:8,15 ↩︎
4. Ephesians 2:8 ↩︎

NEXT IN THE SERIES · Feminism and Femininity – From Promise to Fulfilment

PART 2 OF 7 · Eve, the Mother of All the Living – Continuing our exploration of the woman’s significance in God’s unfolding redemptive purposes.