Elizabeth Torres
Bible 410
September 8, 2025
Liberty University
Chapter 7 of Chou sticks out from the other assigned parts. It shows what happen when
people disobey God in a way that looks almost cinematic. The earlier chapters set the scene of
the perfect start and the promises that follow, but here the author puts the crash-scene in plain
view. The passage talks about real hurts on the ground and the spiritual shake-up, and it pushes
us to rethink how we see sin. This short paper looks at how chapter 7 spells out the fallout, how
it changes our idea of sin, and what this might mean for today’s moral talk.
The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 is usually called the first “no-no.” They ate that
forbidden fruit. That moment not only brought sin but also tore apart the close talk they had
with God and each other. From that break come two kinds of death: the body-death we all face,
and the “second death” – a permanent split from God for those who stay away. Besides those
big theological ideas, the fall reshaped how we live. Three big changes – twisted talk, a tight-
palm economy and a messed-up power structure – show up in every age. Below I’ll look at how
each of those grew out of the original slip and why they still bite us today.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve seemed to live in total peace, each trusting the other.
Once they chose to go against God, that peace cracked, and the clear talk they once had may
have turned tangled with sin. Temptation rose and honesty slipped away. Miscommunication
can start anyway, maybe from bias, maybe from sheer ignorance, maybe from simple
distractions, it appears to happen. Still, talking well matters in every kind of relationship. People
often miss the mark, both with each other and with God. One verse that offers a clue is
Ephesians 4:29. It says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that
which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” In plain terms,
what we say matters, and how we use words can shape lives. For Christians, showing Christ-like
behavior through speech seems crucial, so others might see the way back to God. Maybe this
guidance can help us rebuild trust, if we try.
The second theme about how sin shows up in human life deals with the lack of things
we need. In the Garden of Eden God apparently gave everything that made living easy. Genesis
2:16 records, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat.” When Adam and Eve chose the forbidden fruit, God cursed the ground,
saying, “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth and thou shalt eat of the herb of the field”
(KJV). That curse seemed to begin hard work, which made scarce resources more valuable.
When supply does not meet demand, a shortage appears. Today a drought can raise wheat
prices, and a sudden phone release can empty shelves. Some argue that human invention can
end scarcity, yet the biblical story suggests sin started a pattern of need. Matthew offers a
different view. He tells us not to fret about food or clothing if we trust Him. “Therefore, I tell
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink … Are you not much more valuable
than the birds?” (NIV). The passage appears to reassure us that God will provide, and it hints
that anxiety may worsen shortage because people hoard. Thus, while the fall introduced
scarcity, believers may find comfort in the promise that a relationship with God can offset worry,
even when material needs stay limited, and strive for hope each day.
Third, the idea of managing dominance seems to come from the fact that sin has
entered the world. It feels like we cannot really get rid of sin, no matter how hard we try. Prayer,
then, could be a useful thing we use while going about daily life.The Bible, for instance, gives
several verses about this, and Paul brings up the point more than once in his letters.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Understanding God’s
role may be important because it seems to take control of our lives. Life changes, often
unpredictable. Christians often feel peace, because they trust that God is in control and isn’t
surprised by anything today.
Sometimes it seems like God puts us through tests that later become part of how we tell
our story. In my experience a close friend faced a series of hard health problems. Doctors told
her she might not live past a few months, and within a week they said she would have to have
an eye removed. Yet she stayed strangely calm, almost as if she accepted everything. She never
complained during those two months, not even about the pain. Watching her made me think
about faith and bravery. Before this, I often doubted whether I could really trust God with my
deepest hopes. I was scared to let go of what mattered most – my future career plans. Seeing
her put trust in something she called God's will, I began to wonder if maybe I could also hand
my worries over. My belief grew stronger, because if she could keep peace while everything fell
apart, perhaps my life could, too. Perhaps prayer helped, but science also mattered deeply in.
Managing dominance or control can be divided into four positions. Planning,
organization, leadership, as well as controlling. The one position, controlling, is a direct
consequence of sin. Instead of me handing everything over to God to let Him fulfill his plan, I
held on to that one aspect so tightly. I am not sure what would be different if I had let Him have
it earlier, but I have experienced peace and calmness surrounding that area of my life.
Being a Christian can feel a bit contradictory. We are told we should shine bright in world
that feels dark with sin, yet at the same time we are warned not to trust our own strength but
the mercy and grace that God gives freely. Seeing how broken the earth really is might make the
call seem urgent. The promise that God “shows mercy and grace … as long as we call upon His
name” offers comfort and strength. When we sing about Jesus’ love, proclaim His mercy, and
shout good news of the cross, we’re essentially doing what we’re called to being light where it’s
dark, hope where there’s despair, spreading a love that never ends. Might our lives keep giving
Him glory, as Hewitt encourages?
References
About the origin of the soul – the standard bearer magazine by Reformed Free Publishing
Association: RFPA. The Standard Bearer Magazine by Reformed Free Publishing
Association RFPA. (n.d.). https://sb.rfpa.org/about-the-origin-of-the-soul/
Adam and eve: The true account. Answers in Genesis. (n.d.-a).
https://answersingenesis.org/adam-and-eve/?
srsltid=AfmBOorE7x4yyIWHpiiitSCfwJ9pkO9D5gjAwwUd8wWcKo5xurFdkZJP
Blynov, D. (2023, September 26). Temptations. Medium.
https://medium.com/@davidblynov/temptations-58070f0ee9ac
Core Christianity. (n.d.-a). https://corechristianity.com/
Dance, A. T., Dance, K., Dibert, L., Dance, T., & Kozma, M. (2025, March 24). Six principles of a
healthy marriage. Living Hope Church. https://findlivinghope.com/2025/03/sixprinciples-
of-a-healthy-marriage/
Davis, J. J. (1998). Paradise to prison: Studies in Genesis. Sheffield Publishing Co.
Deborah. (2022, June 29). EP. 18 grace before the curse: Genesis 3:8-13: Book by Book.
Naptime Theologian. https://naptimetheologian.com/grace-before-the-curse/
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