“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” – Genesis 3:15 

Scripture reading: Genesis 3:1-20

Genesis 3 recounts the first-ever missionary journey. Adam and Eve were desperately needy, aware of their nakedness and guilt. Though they are polluted by sin and worthy of death, God came to seek them out. There is great hope in this visit. Do we consider enough, how much His seeking and speaking show mercy? The words that God says are difficult and the curses He pronounces are sobering. But there is also much hope here! There is the promise that Seed will be born, a Child will come, and He will crush the head of Satan. The cause of their sin, and all their problems, will one day be conquered by a Saviour.

Sometimes this verse is called the “proto-evangelion,” which means it is like a prototype of the gospel. It is a simple hope: a Descendant will come to conquer evil. Beyond this good news, at the end of the visit, God made Adam and Eve tunics of skin and clothed them. Though Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, they left with gospel hope in their hearts and a covering for their shame.

Today we know that these hopes have been fulfilled in Christ. We have the entire message of the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-56). He covers sins! (Romans 4:7). Let us rejoice that the Saviour has come and look forward to His return when He will have the final victory!

Suggestion for prayer

Pray for missions and that the church would be faithful in proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth. Pray that you would be ready to give a “…reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Pastor Robert VanDoodewaard currently serves the Free Reformed Church in Powassan, Ontario, Canada as a minister of the gospel.