Hello Everyone,
I pray that all things are well with everyone. We just celebrated a holiday of love. I hope that you all felt loved by someone and extended love to someone on Valentine's Day. So many people have reservations about celebrating Valentine's Day, stating that it is just a holiday that greeting card companies made to make more money. However, even if that is true, what is so wrong about spreading some extra love at least once a year. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8).
Last week we discussed Eve becoming a mother and God's grace in motherhood. I pray that everyone practiced extending grace this week and reflected on all the times that God has already extended grace to you. In the past seven days I have heard the story of the prodigal son from two different speakers, one being my own Pastor (Luke 15:11-24). Both messages touched on God's acceptance of us through His grace. We must extend that same type of grace to each other (John 15:13, Romans 12:20). Extending grace is a part of loving one another with a Godly love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). We also must acknowledge and appreciate how gracious God is to us (Psalms 103:8 & 145:8).
Now, we have studied the many layers of Eve. Today we will discuss Eve's mourning.
Resources
Genesis 4:1- 8
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the Lord." 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Mourning - a state of sorrow over a loss or depreciation; grieving; grief-stricken; bereaved; bereft;
sorrowful
Lesson
When we read the story of Cain and Abel, our most immediate reaction is the shock of Cain killing his own brother. However, what about Eve? The mother of these two children. Could you imagine what she may have felt as a mother to lose her sons? And one at the hand of the other?
I have had this experience to some degree. I have been pregnant nine times and I only have one living child. Through 7 miscarriages and 1 stillborn (Grayson), I have earned an appreciation for a time of mourning. When a child dies, it is an indescribable experience. I'm not sure which is more disruptive, losing them before you know them, or losing them after you know them. When I look back on it, I can only remember 3 of them, Jailey, Grayson, and Carson. Jailey was the first, she was with us for four months, I miscarried in the Summer of 2007. Grayson was born and died December 6, 2010. My husband and I saw him smiling and kicking on so many ultrasounds, then held his tiny little body in our arms when he died. Carson was the last. Carson never made it past month 1. I still grieve today. Just writing this brings up a lot of emotions. However, I know that God's grace is sufficient for me and I know that His plans for me are greater than my losses (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 & Jeremiah 29:11).
How could Eve continue to express the same love for Cain after killing his brother Abel? How could Eve dutifully mourn Abel without having anger towards Cain? God has equipped us with a love that surpasses all understanding (Ephesians 3:19, Philippians 4:7).
In researching this lesson, I could not find any commentaries that addressed the emotions of Eve as a mother in this situation. However, as I studied, the Lord took me to John 11:35 in the bible. Even our Lord and Savior mourned the death of His good friend Lazarus (John 11:1-45).
Many of you may not have experienced motherhood, but you have experienced loss in some way. If you have not lost a loved-one or a friend, you may have lost a home, a job, or even your inner peace to confusion and strife.
God has allotted a time to mourn. However, Jesus did not stay there and mourn. He went to the grave where Lazarus was laid and raised him up from the dead. The most pertinent part is in verse 40 of John the 11th chapter when Jesus says, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Now God, will never resurrect Abel, or my loss children, but He will show His glory through the loss! Hallelujah! His glory is always a blessing because that is our soul purpose, to glorify Him (Genesis 1:27).
God's promises are beyond our mourning (2 Corinthians 1:20). Death is the inevitable. We are born to die. Nevertheless, God's glory remains! It is consistent and never changes (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, we may experience loss, but the work and praises of the Lord must go on (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Application
We mourn so many things. I know people who mourn their younger selves regularly by saying things like, "I wish I was as skinny as I was then" or "Man, back when I was young". We also mourn material things like homes, cars, or favorite shoes, etc; then, the ultimate mourning of a relationship and/or loved ones. God has called us to mourn and move on. His glory is so much bigger than our mourning.
This week think about things, people, or situations that you have been mourning. Then consider what you have been missing out on because you have been mourning for so long. New things, experiences, memories, loves, and relationships can be explored when we mourn according to God's idea of mourning.
If I had spent so much time mourning the death of my other children, I could never truly appreciate the wonderful 16 years that God has given me with my only living son.
Ask God to give you the strength to move on, live in the present, and have true excitement towards the future.
Have a blessed week!!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All scriptures were extracted from the New King James Version of the Bible. YouVersion (2013).
James, Pastor Kevin (2014). Fully Accepted by God's Grace. New Community Bible Fellowship. Cleveland Heights, OH
Meyers, Joyce (2014). Enjoying Everyday Life. The Word Network. Retrieved from Dish Network
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