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.” (Genesis 3:16 ESV)
Sin and Conflict
Conflict is so common, that it seems that it is natural. But conflict is not natural, it is the direct result of sin.
No, the conflict in your life does not occur because you are righteous, and your opponent is sinful. Rather, our conflicts exist and arise because Adam, Eve, and we sin.
Sin ruined everything.
Every aspect of our existence is twisted and tainted by sin. In this verse, God shows us that even the procreation of humanity is now painful, scary, and dangerous. In this verse, God also shows us that even our relationships are now plagued by selfishness, chaos, and fear.
What a mess we would be in…
If it weren’t for God’s goodness. God’s love. God’s grace.
Adam’s sin broke everything. Our sin keeps breaking it. But God fixes everything.
Christ Jesus is the solution to sin, and the solution to conflict.
And He was, in a sense, the direct result of that broken childbirth system… and was born into the conflicts of human relationship.
And thereby fixed it all. The conflicts that led to His death therefore led to our salvation.