Frequently studies are made from the standpoint of “firsts.” First man to sail around the world, first flight, and first man on the moon. Let us consider another set of firsts…first man, woman, children, and family.  Genesis chapters one through four records these great firsts for us.

   The Bible declares the creation of Adam and Eve to have been on the sixth day of the creation week. He gave the first couple all that is necessary to be happy: a home (Gen 2:8); food (Gen 1:29-30/ 1Tim 6:8); purpose (Gen 1:26-28/ Eccl 12:13); work (Gen 2:15/ 2Thess 3:10); a companion (Gen 2:18); and laws (Gen 2:16-17).  They would have been an attractive pair as the DNA was perfect and the gene pool pure. They were as physically perfect as anyone could be.  They could not say they had bad upbringing or mean parents as God Himself was their Father (LK 3:38).

   Not satisfied with all that God had blessed them, Eve wanted more in hearkening to the voice of Satan.  Eve, created as a help meet (suitable) for Adam, should have been sharing with him the words of God. But she carried to him the counsel of Satan!  She ate the forbidden fruit and deliberately gave it to Adam persuading him to do the same. Notice the progression into sin in Gen 3:6: She saw; She took; She ate; she involved others. When God questioned them about their transgression, they should have humbly acknowledged their sin and asked for forgiveness. But they had not learned to humble themselves. Adam blamed Eve and God indirectly while Eve blamed the serpent. This was the first failure in their lives and it was a serious one. They had gone directly against the instructions of God. As a result, they died spiritually, and physical death entered upon all of the family of Adam and Eve, 1Cor 15:22. It is with little wonder why Jesus referred to Satan as a liar and a murderer from the beginning (JN 8:44). With the punishment, however, was the beautiful first promise of the messiah who would one day remedy the sin problem, which had now entered the world, Gen 3:15. Ironically, the very curse of the ground (thorns) would be used to torture and ridicule the promised Messiah (Matt 27:29).

   Adam and Eve built their home outside of their now lost garden home. In time, they were blessed with a son, called Cain. Can you imagine the wonder as they watched this first birth? Perhaps they even thought this was the promised seed. How sadly disappointed they would be. Next to be born was Abel. Cain became a tiller of the ground, and Abel a keeper of sheep. This family appeared to be doing well, but suddenly the collapse came. Cain was moved by envy when he saw that God had respect unto his brother’s offering, while his own was rejected (Heb 11:4), and rose up against his own brother and slew him in a mixture of religious persecution and sibling rivalry. Cain became the very first of those who would practice “Burger King religion”…. that is, those who think they can have it “their way” in the spiritual realm.  Anger, envy and murder thus ravaged the first home. Cain became a vagabond and a fugitive. The parents lost both sons that day. It would be difficult to think of problems which a family might experience today that this first family did not also. Death and sorrow entered the family. The home that Adam and Eve worked hard to build was again ruined. This was the second saddening failure in their lives. Note that both times was because of disobedience to the Lord’s commands. It remains an example of disobedience, to this day (1JN 3:12). The lineage of Cain would produce the first recorded case polygamy, and more murder.  In spite of it all, their lives were to be made joyous again with the birth of little Seth.

  Within the lives of this first family, we find God’s order of family life and the roles within. Let us consider such.

   The Role of Marriage. Where did the idea of marriage come from? Sociologists are baffled by it, for it has no counterpart in the animal world. God designed it for the purpose of both companionship and procreation (Gen 1:28). Nowhere does the Bible teach that celibacy is a more holy state. God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Gen 2:18). Paul declared marriage to be honorable in all things (Heb 13:4). From the beginning we find marriage involved a leaving and a cleaving (Gen 2:24). A leaving of their parents home and a cleaving to the mate. How many homes have been destroyed either because of interfering parents or because the children run back to “momma” and “daddy” as problems arise? The very word cleaving showing early on the teaching on the indissolubility of marriage.

The Role of Man. Though there are times and occasions when the woman may be forced to work outside the home, it appears it was God’s original intent for the man to be the primary breadwinner, Gen 3:17-19. He was not just to be the physical head of the family, but the spiritual head as well. In this, Adam failed to restrain Eve as she sinned in his presence and even followed her example. We may think of Adam being somewhere else as Eve was tempted, but he was with her (Gen 3:6). Strong men are needed today, not just to do the physical labor, but to protect his family spiritually (Eph 6:4) by leading them in example, Bible study, prayer and devotions. A survey of 500 youths in Louisiana showed the vast majority of the ones interviewed believed there should be NO head of the home. But, an army without a head is a lynch mob. A government without a head is anarchy. There must be some final say in the home, and scripturally this falls upon the shoulders of the man as head.  In our rebellious society, this must be dealt with more specifically (Titus 2:3-5).

   The Role of Woman. She was created as a companion to man (Gen 2:18) and as keeper of the home (Gen 3:16). Because of (1) the order of creation and (2) the transgression of Eve, women are to be in submission to men (1Tim 2:12-14). Note that Paul does not appeal to custom as some claim, but to the creation. Paul says that as such, she shall be “saved in childbearing” (1 Tim 2:15). This does not mean that a woman will only be saved if she has children, for some are not capable and some never marry. Rather, this is a figure of speech called a metonymy. In such, a part represents the whole. That is, she shall be saved if she remains in her God given role. Role does not imply worth. The same passage (1Cor 11:3) which says Man is the head of woman also states God is the head of Christ, yet Jesus is equal to God the Father, JN 5:18. This is simply talking about chain of command and not quality or value.

   The Role of Parents and Children. Work was given to the children, Gen 4:1-2. Parents were never intended to be slaves to their children as so often is seen today. Example set by the parents is also very important. Cain’s example was still having consequences down to the fourth generation as a descendant would use him as an excuse for a similar crime (Gen 4:23-24). It has been said that if one wants to see how a prospective mate will treat them after marriage, look at how they treat and deal with their parents and siblings. Cain killed in anger and afterwards lied to God. If one would lie to God thinking they could get away with it, surely they would do so to a mate. Yet, Cain was able to find a wife. Such a rebel might have been exciting at first, but one wonders how happy she was to be the mother of those so wicked that none were spared in the flood.

   This article may not mean much to those who do not believe Adam and Eve were literally the first couple. Jude 14, however, refers to Enoch as being the “seventh from Adam” which is exactly where the Old Testament places him. Jesus (Matt 19:4) refers to their living at the “beginning” rather than millions of years later. To those who believe the scripture, we find in our ancestry a great example of good and bad, right and wrong in the family unit.

   Because of sin, we found a home in paradise lost. In Christ, we can find paradise regained. The Old Testament ends with the Tree of Life removed from man. The New Testament ends with the Tree of Life restored (Rev 22:2) with a life in Christ.

Wayne Goforth
248 Merchant St
Abilene, TX 79603
wgoforth@sbcglobal.net