Before we explore how God dealt with sin in the world, let us understand the sequence of events that precipitate a need to do that.I say dealt because it is a done deal.

Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

The title “Poor Eve” is merely my way of seeing Eve as a victim of Satan’s plot. Coming in disguise, not revealing himself as an ArchAngel, Satan engages her in conversation with evil intent.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Satan challenges her on her understanding of God’s instruction. Liars always begin by challenging our understanding, trying to instill doubt.

Genesis 3:3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Where did Eve get the idea that she was not allowed to touch the fruit of that tree? God’s instruction to Adam did not include a no touch clause. Neither do the scriptures tell us that God gave Eve any instructions directly. There are no scriptures indicating Adam told Eve and added the no touch clause.

This is the first clue in Satan’s challenge. Do we have a proper understanding of God’s Word or do we fill in the blanks with our own thoughts.

Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,

If only Eve had a bible to read God’s Word, maybe she would have read this warning. But she did not but she walked with God every morning. We can only imagine what God might or might not have said to Eve. Now we find ourselves with no answers to questions we should not have floating around in our minds.

“If it were me” is the beginning of an act of pride and the beginning of sorrows.

If only we had some way to ask God directly about things we do not know.

Ah, but we do. God provided a way.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Perception is our reality. We see, feel, taste, hear, and with experience we use our senses to determine our own personal realities. All this happens in the world we live in but not in the heavenly realm. We do not see things as God sees them.

• Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
• Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This is an invitation to look to God for a new way of seeing things, spiritual things, a new reality, something that can be perceived in a new way, this new thing God is doing.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

In Isaiah 43:19 God hints at how to perceive this new thing by saying He will make a way in the wilderness. That is a clear indication that it will not spring forth in the city, behind protective walls, in the courts of kings nor in the temples of men.

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Jesus tells us that John the Baptist is the Forerunner Spirit, sent to herald in a new way.

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Behold, look upon, perceive that God has just provided a way to take away sin from the world.

Put yourselves in the place of those who heard John that day. They had a history of sacrifices for their own personal sins in which they had to return to the temple with their sin offering yearly.

How is it one man could take away the sin of the world? What could that mean to them and their own personal efforts to make sacrifices for their personal sins. How could this work for everyone?