Genesis 3

Division 2. (Genesis 3:1-24; Genesis 4:1-26; Genesis 5:1-32; Genesis 6:1-22; Genesis 7:1-24; Genesis 8:1-22; Genesis 9:1-29; Genesis 10:1-32; Genesis 11:1-32; Genesis 12:1-20; Genesis 13:1-18; Genesis 14:1-24; Genesis 15:1-21; Genesis 16:1-16; Genesis 17:1-27; Genesis 18:1-33; Genesis 19:1-38; Genesis 20:1-18; Genesis 21:1-34; Genesis 22:1-24; Genesis 23:1-20; Genesis 24:1-67; Genesis 25:1-34; Genesis 26:1-35; Genesis 27:1-46; Genesis 28:1-22; Genesis 29:1-35; Genesis 30:1-43; Genesis 31:1-55; Genesis 32:1-32; Genesis 33:1-20; Genesis 34:1-31; Genesis 35:1-29; Genesis 36:1-43; Genesis 37:1-36; Genesis 38:1-30; Genesis 39:1-23; Genesis 40:1-23; Genesis 41:1-57; Genesis 42:1-38; Genesis 43:1-34; Genesis 44:1-34; Genesis 45:1-28; Genesis 46:1-34; Genesis 47:1-31; Genesis 48:1-22; Genesis 49:1-33; Genesis 50:1-26.)The breach with God having come in, separates now between the world and His people, who are the recipients and witnesses of His salvation in it. Typically. -Sin having divided from God, the creative steps become a “growth up unto salvation” (1 Peter 2:2), in which the divine life is distinguished and separated from the life of nature (Seth’s seed from Cain’s, Isaac from Ishmael, etc.) The subdivisions are as follows: —

1. (Genesis 3:1-24.) “The promise of life in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:1) and the new birth in grace.
2. (Genesis 4:1-26; Genesis 5:1-32.) The breach shows itself in the contrasted seeds in the world at large, and in the strife of good and evil within the saint, of which this is the type.
3. (Genesis 6:1-22; Genesis 7:1-24; Genesis 8:1-22; Genesis 9:1-29; Genesis 10:1-32; Genesis 11:1-9.) The resurrection of a world, and the threefold division of mankind after the flood. Typically, the saint raised up with Christ (the ark).
4. (Genesis 11:10-21.) Abraham, the “heir of the world,” and the pilgrim-walk and trial of faith.
5. (Genesis 22:1-24; Genesis 23:1-20; Genesis 24:1-67; Genesis 25:1-34; Genesis 26:1-33.) Isaac: self-surrender the responsibility of sonship, and the recompense of it.
6. (Genesis 26:34-35; Genesis 27:1-46; Genesis 28:1-22; Genesis 29:1-35; Genesis 30:1-43; Genesis 31:1-55; Genesis 32:1-32; Genesis 33:1-20; Genesis 34:1-31; Genesis 35:1-29; Genesis 36:1-43; Genesis 37:1.) Jacob: the discipline of sons.
7. (Genesis 37:2-36.) Joseph: the Christ-life developed in full “image.” There is a real and evident analogy between the typical significance of this series of lives and that of the six days’ work already given; only here, as the six in one case answer to the seven in the other, the numerical stamp becomes a double one from the fourth on, as will be seen. Here is the table: — 1st.The light shining on the “deep;” conviction, repentance, the light of life beginning, as in Adam, subdivision 1. 2nd. Division of the waters, appearance of internal division, the two natures, subd. 2. 3rd. The bounding of the seas, the stable and fruitful ground brought up out of the waters, resurrection ground (Noah), subd. 3. (This day is divided in two: God speaks twice; and this second division answers to the significance of Abraham’s life; so that now we have two numbers attaching to each subdivision; here, 3 and 4: -) The fruit of resurrection, the pilgrim walk of faith, Abraham, subd. 4. 4th. Luminaries: the epistle of Christ is read in self-surrender to Him, as in Isaac, subd. 5. 5th. Fruit from the waters: exercise under the government of God is His effective discipline, as in Jacob, subd. 6. 6th. The dominion of the man: mastery of the world is developed with the Christ-life, seen in Joseph, subd. 7. It will be noticed how, with Abraham onward, the typical character is the main thing, -gives, one may say, the only sufficient meaning to whole chapters, and abundance of minor details. Moreover, it is to be observed how the literal and the typical (as is natural in this case,) blend in a common spiritual lesson. This will be no surprise to those who recognize God’s aim to be every where spiritual, and that this is what the typical meaning develops and enforces.

Genesis 3:1-24

Subdivision 1. (Genesis 3:1-24) Adam.The promise of life in Christ Jesus. The new birth, in grace. (Light, the first day.) 1. Solemn as is the subject of this section, and tremendous as have been its issues, it does not need much comment. It is man’s awful new beginning as away from God, and we may easily find in it our own birthplace morally as sinners. 2. In this second section, we have very plainly the discovery of the breach between God and the soul, the announcement of the conflict between good and evil beginning on the earth, and with this, the announcement of salvation. We have four subsections. —

1. The call of God: a call of mercy to repentance and confession. The serpent therefore has no call, as for him no recovery is possible.
2. The sentence upon the enemy, in which the conflict is announced and the salvation: though, in effecting this, the heel of the woman’s Seed is crushed. This has doubtless a secondary accomplishment (such as we find in the fourth chapter) in all that are born of God. The strife with which the world has been filled since was first sealed with the blood of Abel, -a type of Him whose blood “speaks better things.”
3. The woman is destined to conceive in sorrow, but thus life -as Adam expresses it in the name he gives his wife, Eve, Chavah, “life,” -springs out of travail-pains; already a gospel-hint of resurrection.
4. To man, there is toil upon a cursed earth, and death as the end of it: a picture without relief, whose light must come in from elsewhere.

And now we have what indeed manifests God; for this it is the glory of the gospel to do, though here it is as yet a type-gospel, the time of plain speech being not yet come. Faith acts in Adam in the name he gives his wife. He has heard of life from her, and so he calls her Life; and God answers his faith, clothing them both with the spoils of death, and thus putting away the shame of their nakedness. The conscience of sin, which is what made them flee from God, is removed, God’s hand removing it. The sanctuary, so to speak, is open to them once more, and inward healing and restoration are implied. 4. But the world-trial now begins outside of paradise. \