God doesn’t change. So when He sets a pattern, we’re to imitate Him as it says in Ephesians 5:1: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”
God set up a pattern that later became a law for the Hebrews and the basis of the blood covenant for us. The foundation of this principle begins in Genesis chapter three. In verse seven of that chapter, you will notice that Adam and Eve make their own coverings to hide their nakedness.
When God comes, He calls to them even though He knows where they were. When Adam answers and tells God he is hiding because he is naked, he is actually lying. He had just made a covering for himself so he would not be naked. Yet, Adam knew in his heart that he was still naked in God’s eyes because the covering of the glory was gone.
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
(Gen. 3:11-12)
That’s right, blame the woman!
And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
(Gen. 3:13)
That’s right, blame the devil!
So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”
(Gen. 3:14-16)
God didn’t say He would create sorrow and conception. He said He would multiply them. He also didn’t say the woman was going to start bringing forth children. He said Eve would have pain in bringing forth children.
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.”
(Gen. 3:17-18)
Here is the place where man’s prosperity became cursed, but Jesus broke that curse when the thorns were put on His brow.
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. Also for Adam and his wife the Lord made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
(Gen. 3:19-21)
This is what I want you to understand. Adam made clothing out of what was grown from the earth. But this wasn’t an acceptable covering to God or He wouldn’t have turned right around and killed an animal to make clothing out of the skin. In order to have the correct covering, an animal had to shed its blood.
Remember, God requires blood for atonement. Again, in Leviticus 17:11 it says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”
God’s laws are God’s laws regardless of whether or not people understand them or receive them.
God sets up a pattern in Genesis that we can follow throughout the scriptures. Some day we will totally understand why we have all the spiritual idiosyncrasies of these rules, but until then the bottom line is we either choose to obey them or we don’t.
Excerpt permission granted by Larry Ollison Ministries
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.