Eve - Mother of All Who Have Life

I started this devotional "Women of the Bible" - and I think you all know - who the first woman ever mentioned in the bible -- yes, Eve!

Most of us have read about her several times … so have I.

But today, actually was my very first time - to really try to "understand her" --

selama ini, aku cuma liat Eve -- sebagai …"uurggh, gara2 dia - kita semua berdosa"

*giliran begini aja, aku sok2 berada di di posisi cowo -- dan ga bangga jadi cewe, -> nyalahin Hawa!

Let's see siapa Eve sebelum dan sesudah the Fall ~

Her character: she came into the world perfectly at peace with her God and with her husband, the only other person on the planet. She lived in Paradise, possessing every pleasure imaginable. She never knew the meaning of embarrasment, misunderstanding, hurt, estrangement, envy, bitterness, grief or guilt until she listened to her enemy and began to doubt God.

You know the story ---

Eve dengerin the serpent, ambil that fruit, kasi ke Adam -- makan bareng ..

lalu tiba2 mereka berdua merasa malu karena telanjang -- Tuhan datang -- jreng - jreng .. dan mereka saling menyalahkan …

Dan penderitaan dimulai ~~

karena the Fall --- Adam dan Hawa harus keluar dari the Paradise,

and apa? Yupzzz ~ kita, para anak2 hawa - harus merasakan apa itu labor!! *ga kebayang pas si Hawa dulu ngelahirin, cuma sama si Adam doank >.<

Dah mana, kisah Hawa juga ga kurang sedih … punya 2 anak, en satu dibunuh - satu membunuh …!! *again ga kebayang!

Si Hawa yang super perfect, dengan keadaan yang super perfect, dengan suami yg super perfect -- langsung terjun bebas ke kondisi yg miserable~

*well -- well, kalo kita punya masalah, mgkn ga terlalu ngerasa miserable - karena dari awalpun hidup kita sudah tidak perfect - kondisi kita pun tidak! Kita lahir dengan dosa - dan perasaan insecurity, merasa tidak cantik, iri hati, pahit etc *sebutkan segala dosa kehebatan para wanita.

Namun, Hawa, ------- SHE WAS THE MOST PERFECT WOMAN WHO EVER LIVED.

if we stop there, *seperti yg selama ini aku lakukan, aku merasa bahwa Hawa adalah wanita paling malang di dunia~

Namun, let's not skip the very important thing here -- God promised Eve, sooner or later, despite many griefs, her seed would crush the serpent. In the end, the woman would win.

And, after years -- Seth was born. *yes, walau tidak akan ada yg bisa menggantikan Abel for Eve..

Aku belum pernah merasakan pregnant and giving birth - but I know that the joy, the bonding between mom and her child …. the love ~!! *i wish i could explain more. membuat penderitaan labor means nothing~ *haiya ga kebayang seberapa sakitnya -- en ga kebayang seberapa indahnya punya anak itu sampe bisa labor ga berarti lagi sakitnya~~! isn't it beautiful?

and, yes, Eve experienced it again.

Yang terindah dari kisah Eve buat ku adalah -- *ni kata buku-nya:

Embedded in the very curse put on Eve for her sin is a wonderful promise. God promises her, and succeeding generations: You "will give birth to children" (Gen 3:16)

God's grace and mercy are marvelously evident, even when he's pronouncing his judgment. He promises that the human race will continue even as he announces that death will now be inevitable.

Throughout Scripture, God's grace is often most beautifully evident within his judgments. When the world was so full of sin that he had to destroy it, God's grace saved Noah and his family. When the Israelites rebelled so thoroughly that captivity was inevitable, God's grace promised restoration. While judgment fell on David for his sin with Bathsheba, God's grace them Solomon as a son and successor.

When you are at your lowest, on your knees before God's judgment, never forget that his grace is still at work. And that is truly amazing. :')

Eve, from the top of the world - suddenly fell so deep -- but, His grace was still at work~!

There is a hope for us, wahai para wanita-nya Allah, no matter how miserable kondisimu saat ini - or if you've been at your lowest since forever and dunno how to go back --- his grace is still at work. 'coz we're created for more. He doesn't leave us this way…. God doesn't stop there!!

Let's surrender our lives to Him - let Him fulfill his purpose for creating us..

He created us in His own image - like Eve - He made us a woman capable of reflecting his love, truth, strength, goodness, wisdom and beauty. We were made for paradise. Let’s not stop here!