Eve’s Character as a Mother
*Strong: Eve was emotionally & physically very strong. Per Genesis 3:16 (NIV), it is written: To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Inspite of this punishment i.e. severe childbirth pains, Eve still decided to become pregnant. I can only imagine the unsanitary conditions during those times; no epidural, modern comfort and only Adam was there to help her. This was an unchartered territory for both of them but thanks to God, they made it.
*Faithful:* Though Eve had played a big part in Adam eating from the forbidden fruit & was severely punished by God, she wasn’t bitter. She accepted her punishment. She was quick to acknowledge God at the birth of Cain as is written in Genesis 4:1 NIV, Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.”
She revered God, she knew she couldn’t have done this without God’s help, especially if we think of how unequipped they were back then.
*Grateful:* In Genesis 4:1 NIV quoted above, we can hear love, joy, relief, awe in her words that is typically expressed after a mother goes through the ordeal of childbirth. After a baby is born, handed over to the mother and she sees the baby for the very first time, all pain & bad memories disappear. It suddenly becomes worth it & all the trials insignificant. In John 16:21 NIV it is written: A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
*Perseverance:* Eve had Seth after Cain had killed Abel. Though I don’t know how many years had passed, I am assuming that it had been several years by then. Abel was old enough to tend to the flock and make sacrifices to God so he must be at least a teenager. This also means that Eve was a bit older now but her perseverance & determination allowed her to have another child.
Eve’s Mistakes as a Mother
*Relationship with God:* It appears that Eve did not really teach Cain how to give a sacrificial offering to God. This makes me feel that she hadn’t taught Cain to have an intimate relationship with God. If Cain really knew who God was, he’d not give Him just anything as an offering unlike Abel who gave God from his 1st borns. This is evident in Genesis 4:3-4 NIV: In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
*Spoiled/entitled:* Cain was spoiled by Eve. It may be because he was the 1st born & didn’t know how to raise him. The reality is that most mothers inadvertently tend to spoil their 1st borns while they’re trying to figure out the path of motherhood. If Cain didn’t feel entitled, he wouldn’t have gotten so angry & jealous to the point of murdering his own flesh & blood as written in Genesis 4:5 NIV: but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
*Pride:* Cain was prideful because even when God cautioned him about his attitude and told him what to do to resolve his anger, he didn’t hear nor understand. Genesis 4:6-7 NIV: Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” This spirit of pride is what got satan kicked out of Heaven & it continues to roam amongst brethren. We really have to work at this because it is the reason for many gifted brethren to fall flat on their faces. As written in Proverbs 11:2 NIV, When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. If only Cain had humbled himself and listened to God’s advice, he would never have fallen into such predicament.
Lessons Learned from Eve
Despite Eve’s mistakes with eating the forbidden fruit; getting kicked out of the Garden of Eden; being punished & even losing a son, Abel, at the hands of another son, Cain, she stilled believed in God. She never turned her back on God regardless of the grief & pain of losing Cain to Abel and ultimately losing Cain who was banished by God as seen in Genesis 4:12 NIV: When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
This is very tough situation to be in but her faith didn’t waiver. We see that even in the naming of her 3rd son, Seth, she was thankful & glorified God. Genesis 4:25 NIV: Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.”
This attitude was very commendable of Eve. It showed humility, maturity in taking ownership, reverence for God, faith & complete surrender to God.
How many people would do this? Lose 2 out of 3 sons and still have faith in God and stand knowing He will come through for you? Though Cain did not die, he became a wanderer/nomad so I am not sure how much of a relationship he had with his parents. He might as well have been dead.
In the end regardless of the storms of life Eve encountered, she put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV) after she had done all she could, she stood on God’s word, promises & remained faithful!