01(Gen 3,15) The First Gospel

Genesis 3:15 And 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."

I.       Enmity put between the two.

hb'yae 'eybah – enmity, hatred. Used five ways and always between people, not animals.

§  This is the curse put upon the serpent. It is to crawl on its belly, a sign of being made lower than all the rest of animated creation. God placed a state of hostility between Satan and Eve, and between the offspring of Satan and the offspring of Eve.

II.    “Her” Seed.

§  Ironic that it speaks of the woman’s seed, since women are not referred to as having seed. This was likely a reference to the future virgin birth.

§  Note that the seed is singular.

§  Galatians 3:15-16 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.

III. “His” Heel.

A.     Suffix on the word heel is masculine; “his heel”.

§  The Jews understood this to point to the Messiah Himself.

B.     Thus “He” shall bruise your head.

§  Not speaking of the woman. This masculine singular pronoun speaks of another.

§  Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

C.     Bruise his heel – reference to Christ’s crucifixion.

Conclusion: the promise begins with a seed. This messianic hope begins here.

A.     The protoevangelum – the first gospel. It gave our first glimpse into the plan of God concerning our plan of redemption.

B.     God has never had to punt. He never has last-minute fixes to His divine purposes.

§  Matthew 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

§  Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

This much is sure: God is providing an antidote to the sin introduced into the world. God was intervening and providing a resolution. And God was not surprised. Nor is He surprised by your actions today. And He has already provided an antidote.