Meditation on Eve - March 12, 2025

There is not a lot of Biblical date about Eve. I used my computer to search the entire Bible and it came up with seven passages.

With that said, there are some fascinating extra-biblical item written about the life of Adam and Eve. 99% are narrative stories handed down through the centuries in an attempt to fill in the gaps. What follows is a summary drawn from five sources.

Eve's life after leaving Eden centered around two main aspects: her belief in a promised Messiah and her family[1][2]. According to the articles, Eve believed God's promise of a savior who would come from the seed of a woman, and she initially thought her firstborn son, Cain, was this Messiah[1][2]. However, Cain proved to be challenging to raise, exhibiting traits like temper tantrums, pride, and disobedience[1][2]. Eve went on to have more children, including Abel and Seth, and eventually had thirty sons and thirty daughters[3]. Her life was marked by the pain of childbearing, as God had declared, which included not only physical pain but also emotional suffering, such as when Cain murdered Abel[4]. Despite these hardships, one article suggests that Eve developed wisdom over time, gaining perspective and learning to navigate the uncertainties of life outside Eden[5].

[1] Internal W7 # -Introducing People of the Bible: Vol. one. (1999). WORDsearch. [2] Phillips, J. (2006). Exploring People of the Old Testament, Volume One (p. 23). Kregel. [3] Pettorelli, J.-P. (2010). Adam and Eve, Life Of. In J. J. Collins & D. C. Harlow (Eds.), The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (p. 303). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. [4] Faris, K. (2023). God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood (p. 58). Crossway. [5] Ochs, V. L. (2011). Sarah Laughed: Modern Lessons from the Wisdom and Stories of Biblical Women (p. 4). The Jewish Publication Society.

After Genesis 4 scripture is silent.

But what can we learn from Eve. She was a woman of faith who was looking forward to God’s promised Messiah.

When God told Adam and Eve in

Genesis 3:15 NIV84

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Eve was looking forward to this day. In fact, when chapter 4 rolls around we learn that Eve gave birth to Cain. Some of speculated that she through Cain was the child of promise:

Genesis 4:1 NIV84

“With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.”

However Cain demonstrated by his life that he is not the one. Specifically, he murdered his brother Abel.

She continually remained faithful in looking forward to God delivering on his promise.

When you’re watching a series that ends with a cliffhanger, you’re left in suspense, eagerly awaiting the next season. That’s how Eve felt after the fall in the Garden of Eden. She received the ultimate cliffhanger in God’s promise of a Messiah in Genesis 3:15. She may not have seen the resolution right away, but her faith kept her looking forward, knowing God would come through with a grand plot twist.

In the midst of her sorrow and loss after the fall, Eve held onto a glimmer of hope. She believed God’s promise that one day a Savior would come to redeem humanity. This faith in the unseen was powerful, driving her to teach her children the importance of trusting in God’s plan. Similarly, in our lives, we often face trials, yet having faith in God’s promises leads us through our darkest valleys.

Eve’s faith can be likened to a mother waiting for her child to return home. Just as she endures uncertainty and pain, she looks forward to the joy of reunion. Eve anticipated the arrival of the Messiah long before it was visible. Her faith teaches us that sometimes, our greatest struggles are met with the deepest convictions of hope. We are called to look forward, just like Eve did.

Imagine a dark, stormy night, where a ship is lost at sea. The captain believes in a lighthouse guiding them home. That beacon of light represents hope. For Eve, Genesis 3:15 was her lighthouse, illuminating the path through despair. Even when surrounded by darkness, her faith lit the way for generations. Like Eve, our faith in Christ serves as our guiding light in a tumultuous world.

Eve stood at the doorway of despair, knowing the weight of sin and loss. Yet, she listened to God’s promise that her descendants would crush the serpent’s head. Her faith wasn’t blind; it was rooted in God’s unchanging nature. Eve reminds us that genuine faith often requires us to embrace uncertainty while trusting in God’s perfect timing for redemption, even in brokenness.

In a world filled with uncertainty, Eve’s faith reminds us of the powerful hope we have in Jesus. When she received the promise in Genesis 3:15, she was looking forward to something far greater than herself. It’s similar to planting a seed; you nurture it despite not seeing the fruit yet. Eve’s expectation of the Messiah challenges us to nurture our faith, trusting that God is faithful to fulfill His promises.

Hebrews 11:1–6 NLT

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Hebrews 11:13–14 NLT

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.

If you’re attending church but struggling to see its impact on your spiritual growth, remember Eve’s faith in God’s promise. Seek out a Christian friend within here at Our Redeemer’s who has walked a similar journey of faith. Schedule regular meetings for prayer and Bible study. By having someone to share your concerns and doubts with, your faith is strengthened in the truth of God’s promises, much like Eve did, while also fostering meaningful relationships within the body of Christ.

Or, if you seem to be struggling with spiritual things, keep attending worship. Focus on the cross. Ask someone to join you at altar rail before worship to pray. Don’t forget what took place at the baptismal font, where our Lord united you with Christ Jesus in His death and resurrection. There’s a bit of water in the baptismal basin. Make a point to dip you finger into it giving thanks to God that He has washed away your sin, and has given you faith much like He did Eve.