Eve: The First Wife & Mother
We know very little about Eve, the first woman in the world, yet she is the mother of us all. She was the final piece in the intricate and amazing puzzle of God’s creation. Adam now had another human being with whom to fellowship – someone with an equal share in God’s image. Here was someone alike enough for companionship, yet different enough for a relationship. Together they were greater than either could have been alone.
Eve was approached by Satan in the Garden of Eden, where she and Adam lived. He questioned her contentment. How could she be happy when she was not allowed to eat from one of the fruit trees? Satan helped Eve shift her focus from all that God had done and given to the one thing he had withheld. And Eve was willing to accept Satan’s viewpoint without checking with God.
Sound familiar? How often is our attention drawn from the much which is ours to the little that isn’t? We get that “I’ve got to have it” feeling. Eve was typical of us all, and we consistently show we are her descendants by repeating her mistakes. Our desires, like Eve’s, can be quite easily manipulated. They are not the best basis for actions. We need to keep God in our decision-making process always. His Word, the Bible, is our guidebook in decision making.
Strengths and Accomplishments
- First wife and mother
- First female. As such she shared a special relationship with God, had co-responsibility with Adam over creation, and displayed certain characteristics of God.
Weaknesses and Mistakes of Eve
- Allowed her contentment to be undermined by Satan
- Acted impulsively without taking either to god or to her mate
- Not only sinned, but shared her sin with Adam
- When confronted, blamed others
Lesson from Her Life
- The female shares the image of God
- The necessary ingredients for a strong marriage are commitment to each other, companionship with each other, complete oneness, absence of shame
- The basic human tendency to sin goes back to the beginning of the human race
Vital Statistics for Eve
- Where: Garden of Eden
- Occupation: Wife, helper, companion, co-manager of Eden
- Relatives: Husband: Adam, Sons: Cain, Abel, Seth. Numerous other children
Key Verse
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’” (Genesis 2:18)
Eve’s story is told in Genesis 2:19 – 4:26. Her death is not mentioned in scripture.
Click here to print or download the Scripture character study “Eve – Mother of the Human Race“
