THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION

God was not content to allow mankind to remain in a fallen state and be forever separated from Him. However, judgment was required because of the sin of disobedience on the part of Adam and Eve, and Satan for his temptation. Graciously, within this judgment, God included a prophecy which would foretell the path to redemption of sin and restoration of fellowship for all mankind.

 

Genesis 3:14-15

 

“And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

 

God triggered His plan of redemption by way of judgment against Satan, Eve, and Adam. God’s judgment set in motion a perpetual conflict … enmity … between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. These seeds are offspring; physical descendants who will engage in a spiritual conflict. Obedience becomes the issue. The seed of the woman will obey God and the seed of the serpent will obey Satan.

 

The centerpiece of God’s redemptive promise revolves around this conflict and will result in “bruising the heel” of the seed of the woman and the “bruising the head” of the serpent. While it is, admittedly, sometimes difficult to understand the figurative and literal language of the Bible, the point is that at some time in the future, a climatic event will take place involving these seeds. For clarity, the seed of the woman is Jesus Christ, and the seed of the serpent are those who reject Jesus Christ.

 

 

Next: THE FLOOD