In America the phrase “first family” always refers to the President and his family; however, I want to focus on a different “first family”. I want to discuss the first family of this world, of all creation: Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve’s creation and life is found in Genesis 1:26 through Genesis 5:4.
God created a beautiful, magnificent world where man could grow and live. God saw that His creation was “good”-a terminology repeated over and over throughout the creation account. However, in Genesis 2:18 the Bible states: “And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”” Man needed a companion so that he would not be alone; therefore, Eve was created by God out of Adam’s rib. It is important to realize that God created the ideal mate for man: a woman from his own flesh.
Adam and Eve struggled just as people struggle today. They were both tempted by Satan to transgress the commandment of God in Genesis 2:16-17: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
One of the greatest lessons one can learn from the sinful actions of Adam and Eve is that there is a consequence for sin (or transgression of law). Adam and Eve were banished from the garden (Genesis 3:23). In Genesis 3:16 the Bible describes Eve’s punishment: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” In Genesis 3:17-19 the Bible describes Adam’s punishment: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”
Another lesson one can learn from the actions of the first family is that God is faithful to His Word. God states that the penalty for disobedience of His commandment would be death in Genesis 2:16. One of the many beautiful characteristics of God is that He is faithful-completely faithful-to His promises.