The First Gospel Proclamation
Scripture Reading: Genesis 3:8-19
There is a lot of bad news in Genesis chapter three. After the fall, God comes and speaks to Adam and Eve and the serpent. Each hears from the Judge of all the earth the condemnation of their sin and the judgment that would fall on them. Their sin had immediate and long-term consequences, affecting both themselves and their descendants throughout human history. “Curse” is the keyword here. They, their offspring, and the very world in which they lived would come under a curse.
In the middle of this pronouncement, while speaking directly to the devil, God gives a message of hope. It isn’t a hopeful message for Satan, even though the Lord is speaking directly to him. To the serpent, it was a warning of his ultimate defeat. But that was good news for the other congregants, Adam and Eve. The one who had tempted them would be dealt with.
But what about them? This verse has been called the “protoevangelium,” or the “first gospel.” While the text doesn’t specifically say so, it implies that the destruction of the serpent would mean redemption for humanity. Interestingly, this crushing of the devil would come about through the woman’s seed. The Bible usually refers to seed as coming from man. Here it is the seed of the woman. Is this a foreshadowing of the virgin birth? I think it is.
How would this Seed of the woman crush the devil? We aren’t told. What we are told is that it would involve His heel being bruised. What could the serpent do to bruise the heel of this man? Maybe drive a nail through His feet?
