BBC: Genesis 3:17-19

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” - Genesis 3:17-19

Again there are many practical things within this passage that must be brought forward. The first is the federal responsibility of husbands. Yes Adam was guilty of eating the tree. So why does God include the "listening to the voice of your wife"? I will not speculate on what would have happened but will affirm that Adam should not have listened to Eve. Likewise, husbands must know what the word of God says and firm when those closest to them disobey. For in many Biblical cases, women have been the undoing of men.

Adam is responsible for the subject futility of creation (Rom 8:20). Any Christian concern that neglects God's creation only replays the sin of Adam. Are we to be about redeeming God's creation? Not truly. But we can groan alongside the creation that we subjected (Rom 8:22-23). Thankfully, God has promised to slowly reverse this destruction (Isa 65:21-23).

Man was made for work. Now man sorrows in work. Though there are blessings of jobs, man should not shrink back from what is painful and toilsome. God has not granted mercies equal on all men in this regard. No genuine Christian should ever shirk his duties and responsibilities because they are difficult. Man's calling is fulfilled in doing the work of Christ. The work of Christ is whatever work is laid before us.

It could be said that the Devil lives off the death of men: dust (Gen 3:14). This typology however may go too far.

*The Bible Blogging Commentary is a slow and simple treading of the Scriptures. No quotes from other theologians and no explicit Greek/Hebrew lessons.*