Origins: The Beginning (Genesis 1–11)Sample

By Cole Hopper

“The Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.’” Genesis 3:14–15 (ESV)

Do you ever wonder if God is on your side? The atrocities and hate we see in the world are astonishing. Even the sin that finds its way into our lives sometimes makes it hard to understand how a good and holy God can be for us and not against us. However, as dark as the world gets and as far away as God may seem, there is good news.

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve screwed up. They blew it and they knew it. Then, in their shame they tried to cover themselves up and hide from God, but God found them. What would you expect God to do when He finds the people that have directly disobeyed His command? Yes, He disciplines them. Yes, this is the moment in history we call the fall, when man is separated from God. And yes, this is the moment we call the curse, where the perfect state of the world is stripped away and life becomes difficult for mankind from this point forward. But in the midst of all of this we see the love of God right in the center. 

The first significant thing God does in verse 14 is not lash out at Adam and Eve; instead He curses the serpent (who we know from Revelation 12:9 is Satan). He recognizes what the serpent did by tempting Eve and He makes him pay the consequences. And it is here, in God’s cursing of Satan, that we see the protoevangelium, the first announcement of the gospel (good news). 

God speaks about the woman’s offspring and says, “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” What does God mean by this? He is looking forward, through the lineage of Adam: from Seth, to Abraham, to Moses, to David, all the way down to Jesus; to the one that would, at the cross, bruise the head of Satan. It is here, directly after mankind’s weakest moment that God, in love, provides the everlasting hope of redemption. He is telling Adam and Eve that He is not going to leave them where they are; He is on their side.

God loves you and continually offers hope and redemption for anyone who puts their trust in Christ, the One who was bruised for our sins. Even in your weakest moment, even right in the midst of sin, God’s love is there for you. It was His plan at the beginning and it is His plan now. God is for you; He is on your side. 

DIG: Read Hebrews 2:14–18 for another picture of how Christ “bruised Satan’s head” on our behalf.

DISCOVER: What are the areas of your life you feel the most guilt, shame, or fear about? Pray and ask God to remind you of His love for you even in these areas. 

DO: Find someone this week that is discouraged or having a hard time and remind them that God is on their side and has been from the beginning.