I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head; you shall bruise Him on His heel. Genesis 3:15
Do you wonder why this Scripture is in a Christmas devotional? Yes, it belongs to the Genesis story, but it also belongs to Christmas.
This little verse, called the proto evangel, is the beginning of the gospel. Right there in the third chapter of Genesis we find God’s first promise of Jesus.
Adam and Eve have disobeyed God, who chastises them but also promises that he will send a redeemer. God speaks to “that old serpent the Devil” and tells him what the future holds! God promises that eventually the snake, who caused all the problems for Adam and Eve, will one day have his head smashed—destroyed by a descendent of Eve. Not, however, until he (Satan) has bruised the heel of Eve’s descendent, The Messiah, whom God will send to overcome Satan.
Two thousand years before Jesus was born, we learn how he will die. Only in crucifixion does the means of death bruise the heels of its victim. Not only did God promise to send Jesus, but he told us in a subtle that his coming and dying would be painful!
Who is the baby whose birthday we will soon celebrate in December? He is the one God promised to send to destroy the Satan, who tempts us daily as he seeks to turn us from God. Four thousand years ago, God promised.
Father, thank you for the promise of Jesus, for keeping your promise, even after 2000 years, and for his birthday we celebrate 4000 later. Amen.
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