The Repairer of the Breach

The first woman Eve has a bad rap. She is blamed for pregnancy pains, "non-pregnancy pains", sin, evil, and basically the fall of mankind. While reading the book, Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, he described the story I have read a gazillion times in a whole different light. He described the temptation of Eve as a scene that Adam was very present at.

I always pictured Eve alone in a garden, trapped by a slippery snake.. what woman wouldn't do whatever he said.. its a snake... I am petrified of snakes... thus I eat.. However, what if Adam was there the whole time, witnessed the exchange of conversation... but did absolutely nothing... Adam did not admonish Eve or be a "devil's advocate" (no pun intended). Instead... he ate as well... and went from witness to full-fledged accomplice...

The next step after this "heinous crime" was to hideout. Adam and Eve became fugitives in their own garden. The world of perfection as they had known it was breached. Though no fog horns invaded the quiet, no SWAT team kicked in their doors... no bullets whizzed by their heads... all of nature must have mourned... as sin had slithered into the Garden of Life...

Since this day... this breach... loving animals became attacking... tiny mosquitoes began biting... the sun began beating... the fog began blinding... the wind began howling... the people began sinning... The Fall, as it is called, has affected every living thing (plant, animal, person) since that day. It is more than a million dollar mistake, or a lack of judgement, more heinous that wanton negligence, or willful disregard... When Adam and Eve sinned, the whole world obtained a death sentence....

Thats the bad news... the good news is found in Isaiah 58 during a "pep rally" of sorts. God gave those of us who are fugitives in our own hearts... convicts on the run.. with a heart for God... that our story wasnt over.. our last hurrah was not a re-run of Bonnie and Clyde... he gave us a survival guide through the thorny garden of life...

"If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness as the noonday. Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to dwell in. (Isaiah 58:10-12)

We cannot change the past... we can change our future...