The Promise of Redemption FULFILLED
Genesis 3:15 - “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Our God, from the beginning, poured out His grace to the people He chose before the world began. The Lord did not need to create man and bring us to existence. But because of His grace and love, He made and foreordained and predestined us to be with Him for all eternity.
There are many things that we would never understand about God’s plan. Because He is God, He has all the prerogative to do and allow everything according to His will. Our finite mind can never comprehend the mind of God. We only need to put our complete trust in Him.
He allowed sin to test man, make himself aware of his capability, and realize his dependency only on God. Sadly, man failed. God already knew the result, but He wanted man to learn obedience and be accountable, morally responsible, and aware of his responsibilities towards Him. As beings created in His image, He wanted us to have an eternal relationship with Him and to prepare us for glorious eternity.
When sin entered, man failed the test and fell out of fellowship and relationship with God. All of God’s creation was affected, and because man had to learn obedience and accountability, consequences were meted. For the first time, death came. Man died spiritually and physically, and without God’s promise of a Messiah mentioned in our text, man would not have an opportunity to be restored and redeemed and suffer eternal death.
This verse from Genesis reminds us that God’s intention for man has not changed. Since man does not have the strength to overcome sin and to save himself from the consequences of sin, God had to send His only begotten Son to be the payment and the perfect sacrifice to secure our redemption.
As a righteous and holy God, He gave and taught man the laws for us to know and value God’s standard of righteousness. He gave us the discernment to know right from wrong. With all the faculties God gifted us with, man could process mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally to show our faith, understanding, and growth. God’s purpose is to change man and prepare him for eternity.
God orchestrated the enmity between Satan and His people (starting with the righteous nation, Israel, and then the Church) to demonstrate His righteous standard. Sadly, the woman (chosen nation of Israel) failed, so God sent the Seed (His Son, the seed of the woman) Jesus Christ, who victoriously crushed the head of the serpent (Satan). Yes, in Christ’s suffering and death on the cross, His heel was bruised, but not enough to kill Him. His death and resurrection finally defeated the serpent (Satan) when Christ crushed the serpent's head to his eternal death together with those who followed him.
Through this, God finished the work of redemption. To claim His victorious work, man has to put his trust in Jesus Christ by repentance and faith. This is the reason why we are saved today and assured of eternity. God’s plan has been fulfilled, and His desire for man and all His creation will happen as promised.
God created man to bless us and be with Him and to glorify Him forever. He did not cause sin or use man for selfish motives. Everything He did and does is to bless us forever. God deserves our praise!
Our Prayer for today:
Dear Lord, you have been gracious to us from the beginning. You created us to give us the Blessed and glorious opportunity to be with You forever. Thank You that despite our failure, You redeemed us. You could have all together condemned us, but You forgave and restored us. May we also be faithful in declaring and sharing with others this wonderful news that through Your Son, they will be saved. In Jesus Name. Amen.