Man's Forfeited Sovereignty

October 1st, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 2:8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Man’s original destiny on the earth to rule over all things well was thwarted by Adam’s sin (Gen. 3). Since then, neither mankind nor the earth itself has been the same. Man forfeited his kingdom and crown and gave them over to Satan whom he has been at war with ever since.

Originally the earth supplied man’s needs without him having to do much. After the curse, however, man has had to toil on earth to bring forth its fruit. Now the earth is under the influence of the curse which yields weeds and death. Mankind therefore does not rule over the earth, rather, it tends to rule over him in the form of famines, earthquakes, tornados, and the like.

After mankind’s fall, women were cursed, for God told Eve, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, but he shall rule over you” (Gen. 3:16). Men also were cursed, for now Adam would have to work for his food since God was going to curse the earth. God told Adam: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you,’ in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground” (Gen. 3:17-19). The animal kingdom also paid a heavy price for man’s sin. Whereas all of God’s created animals were once affectionate toward man, only a few are compliant towards man.

Virtually everything God originally gave man as a blessing has become a curse. The earth brings forth natural disasters with extremes in both heat and cold. Plants produce thorns and poisonous resins. Man plants but can only hope to reap. He builds cities but is helpless against floods, tornados, and earthquakes. He works tirelessly to advance himself through education, yet he can be totally devastated by cancer or sudden death. Man basically fights against himself, against his fellow man, and against nature—all due to his own sin and the curse on the earth.

Astoundingly the creation itself knows its present, cursed condition. Paul wrote in Romans 8:19-22: “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”

So when the author of Hebrews says, “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him” (v. 8b), he means that although God originally intended for man to rule over God’s creation, we do not see mankind currently ruling. Instead, man is being ruled over! The author says this with a full understanding not only of what he knew to be true in reality and nature but also its relevance to the Genesis curse. God put everything in subjection to mankind, but man threw it away. Now man struggles, even blaming God for his own sinful rebellion. Yet God merely held true to His promise, a promise that includes deliverance in Christ (Gen. 3:15).

Food For Thought
The present conditions will not prevail forever. In Jesus Christ alone man is set free from the curse by believing in Him through faith. In the “world to come” that Hebrews describes, man will enjoy what God originally intended for him to enjoy. There will be no more death, sickness, or sadness. Nations will no longer fight against nations (Isa. 2:4), and the animal kingdom will be restored as the wolf lies down with the lamb in peace (Isa. 11:6). Even so, come Lord Jesus!