Genesis 3:15—The First Prophecy in the Bible
Soon after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and introduced sin into the world, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden as punishment. But something else had to be done about their sin. God still loved them in spite of their sin, and would not let that be the end of the matter. Being perfect, holy, and unwilling to allow sin to go unforgiven (Habakkuk 1:13), God had already devised a wonderful plan to make it possible for Adam, Eve, and all people since, to be forgiven of sin.
The first hint of this great plan of salvation was given in the garden just before Adam and Eve were expelled. God rebuked Satan, saying: “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). What did God mean by this statement?
He was saying that trouble would always exist between Satan (and those who follow him), and those who follow God (read Matthew 23:33, John 8:44, 1 John 3:10, and Psalm 22:30). From the Garden until now,Satan has tried to get people to disobey God. The righteous people and the un-righteous have alwaysbeen at odds witheach other. But God said how He would handle this trouble: “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” He meant that even though Satan would do everything possible to get people to sin, and to stop God from saving people from their sin, God would still make a way for people to be forgiven. He would send Jesus to live a sinless life, and then to die for everybody’s sin. When Jesus died on the cross, He sufferedgreatly (“heel bruised” by Satan). But His death allowed God to forgive sin (Satan’s “head crushed”)! Now people can escape the power of Satan (Acts 26:18; Romans 16:20)! The death of Jesus on the cross destroyedSatan’s efforts to prevent people from being forgiven (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8). We still have to choose to follow God, and try constantly to keep from sinning. But God loves us so much that He gave us His wonderful Son! Satan has been defeated!
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