Genesis 3:18 Daily Devotional & Meaning – Thorns, Thistles, and the Hope of Redemption
- Benjamin Michael Mcgreevy
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Daily Verses Everyday! Day 16
“Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;”
This verse deepens our understanding of the world before and after the entry of sin. The curse pronounced on the ground reveals that thorns and thistles—symbols of frustration, futility, and resistance—were not part of God’s original design. Prior to sin, creation reflected harmony and abundance. Plants grew in perfect order, roots intertwined in balance without competition, and the Earth yielded fruit willingly to the hands of humanity. Work, in its original form, was a joyful stewardship rather than a weary struggle. Adam was tasked with keeping the garden, but his labor would have been a partnership with creation, not a battle against it.
The introduction of thorns and thistles marks a drastic shift. No longer would the ground yield its best without effort. Where once there was ease, now there would be frustration. This reminds us that sin not only fractured man’s relationship with God but also disrupted the relationship between humanity and the earth. Romans 8:20–22 says, “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Creation itself was unwillingly subjected to corruption, yet God allows this futility in hope, pointing forward to redemption.
The thorns that pierce Adam’s hands while he works are the same thorns Christ bore upon His head at the crucifixion. In that moment, Jesus took on the symbol of the curse itself, showing that He came not only to redeem humanity but to renew all creation. Therefore, we are reminded of two realities, the depth of sin’s corruption and the hope of God’s restoration.
Every time we face frustration at work, every time nature resists us, we are reminded of sin’s consequences. Yet, we also cling to the promise that one day the curse will be lifted. Through Christ, creation will no longer groan in pain but will flourish once again in harmony with its Creator and His redeemed people.
If you would like to explore Genesis in a sustained, verse-by-verse way with space to reflect, journal, and trace how these foundational truths unfold through Scripture the Verse by Verse book expands these reflections into a unified reading experience. The book gathers these meditations into a structured journey through Genesis, designed to help readers linger in the text and engage God’s Word more deeply over time.
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