Page 28 - Breaking the Curse of Poverty David Owusu

Demystifying The Curse Of Poverty

question, I dare say the Creation account as narrated in the book of
Genesis presents a picture of perfection and abundant supply;

“and the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in
Eden[delight]; and there He put the man whom He had formed
[framed, constituted]…and out of the ground the Lord made to
grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight –or to be desired-good
(suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life also in the center of the
garden, and the tree of the knowledge of [the difference between]
good and evil and blessing and calamity…now a river went out

of the garden; and from there it divided and became four [river]
heads…the first one is called Havilah, where there is Gold; the
gold of that land is of high quality; bdellium (pearl?) and onyx
stone was there…” Genesis 2:8-12 [AMPC]

The ground was “commanded to yield” for man; it was not the duty
of man to make that happen; there were no thickets commanded
to provide for man neither were there thistles, - only “good for
food” were commanded of the Lord. This means that what God
intended for man was good and not thorns and thistles that refer
to barrenness.

Thorns and thistles signify futility of labour, barrenness or the
chocking effect of the curse. In Jeremiah for instance we find the curse
over the people’s labour equating to thorns, “non- productivity”:-

“They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves
out but gain nothing. They will bear the shame of their harvest

because of the Lord’s fierce anger” Jeremiah 12:13 [NIV]

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