Pastor Ray Smith
Senior Pastor - First Congregational, Ashland, NE |
Feb 13, 2026
Many "firsts" can be found in the book of Genesis. Unfortunately, there are several 'firsts' we either don't consider very often, or we don't contemplate at all: the first curses found in Scripture. The idea of God cursing people, or things, or places sounds foreign to our modern and materialist world; an Old Testament concept only, many would say. Yet, Jesus pronounces seven "woes" or "curses" upon the Pharisees. Jesus curses the towns of Bethsaida and Capernaum. Jesus curses the fig tree on the road to Jerusalem. It is also the Savior Himself, as He speaks of the future separation, who will announce the final curse to any found outside of Him. Paul, writing to the Galatians who had suddenly been bewitched, declares, "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse!" This brings us right back to the garden of Eden, where because of Satan's deception, Eve's mistrust, and Adam's deliberate sin, everything in creation has found itself "under God's curse." The serpent was cursed to crawl on its belly. The ground was cursed to produce thorns and thistles. Eve was cursed with pain in childbearing and a desire to control her husband. Adam was cursed to toil and sweat until returning to dust. More tragic than these, however, is the next first we will encounter in scripture this week; death itself entering the world as the expression of God's judgment upon sin. What we'll learn this week is that these curses were not arbitrary punishments from a heavy handed God, these curses were the natural consequences of humanity breaking fellowship with the source of all that is life, all that is holy, all that is good. But all of this turmoil in the garden wasn't a surprise to God, and it's here, in the garden, that we also see our first glimpse of the Savior that would redeem all of creation from all its curses. God promises that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head, though He would be bruised in the process. This is what scholars call the protoevangelium, the first gospel. This is the first marker among hundreds in the Old Testament that were always pointing forward to the Messiah, the Christ, who would bear these curses in our place. "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times" ~2 Thessalonians 3:16 ~Pastor Ray~ Servant in Christ 402-944-7121 (church office) |
PASTOR RAY SMITH
Pastor Ray began his ministry at First Congregational, Ashland, NE, February 2025