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Response
In Genesis 3, God pronounces various judgments against those who introduced sin into His perfect world. Adam, Eve, and the serpent all learn of the repercussions of their rebellion. Addressing the serpent, God declares, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” «and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. », (Genesis 3:15, KJV).
Even within this judgment, there is mercy. God’s curse on the serpent, specifically, contained words of hope. The woman referred to in Genesis 3:15 is Eve. The serpent, directly addressed, is the creature that Satan utilized to deceive the woman. While some of the curse was directed at the animal (verse 14), simultaneously, God’s curse falls upon Satan, who had assumed the form or body of the serpent in Eden, as seen in Revelation 12:9.
As a consequence of the curse, enmity—mutual hatred and ill will—will exist between the woman and the serpent. Subsequently, this enmity will persist between the woman’s descendants, representing mankind in general, since Eve is the “mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20), and the serpent’s descendants. Their offspring will remain adversaries throughout all generations. The serpent’s (symbolic) descendants are demonic forces and also individuals who align with the devil and carry out his desires. Jesus referred to the Pharisees as a “brood of vipers” in Matthew 12:34 and stated that they belonged to their “father, the devil” in John 8:44. In essence, God affirms that Satan will always be humanity’s adversary.The passage reveals that individuals who align with Satan will be in constant conflict with God’s chosen ones, and we are involved in a genuine battle between good and evil. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12).
Genesis 3:15 is a significant verse, often referred to as the protoevangelium (meaning “first gospel”), as it is the initial prophecy of a Savior in the Bible. The latter part of the verse contains two messianic predictions regarding that Savior:
The initial messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15 states that “he will crush your head.” This implies that the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head. The Amplified Bible clarifies that “the woman’s seed” represents more than just humanity in general; it signifies an individual who embodies all of humanity:
“And I will put enmity (open hostility)
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed;
He shall [fatally] bruise your head.”
The second messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15 is that “you will strike his heel.” This means that the serpent will strike at the heel of “the woman’s seed.” The heel strike is contrasted with the head crush, as highlighted in the Amplified Bible: “And you shall [only] bruise His heel.”
This passage alludes to the promise of Jesus’ birth, His redemption, and His triumph over Satan. The woman’s descendant is Jesus. Being born of a virgin, He is indeed the descendant of a woman (Matthew 1:25; Galatians 4:4; cf: Isaiah 7:14). As the Son of Man, He is the ideal representative of humanity. The offspring of the devil were the wicked individuals and demonic entities who, like a serpent, awaited the Savior and attacked Him. Their malevolent scheme led to Jesus being condemned to crucifixion.
But the serpent’s strike did not spell the end of the Offspring of the woman. Jesus rose on the third day, breaking the power of death and achieving the ultimate victory. Through the cross, Jesus “crushed” the devil’s head, defeating him forever. Therefore, in Genesis 3:15, the crushing of the serpent’s head symbolized Jesus’ triumph over sin and Satan at the cross (cf. John 12:31). The striking of the Messiah’s heel depicted the wounding and death of Jesus on the cross. Satan bruised Jesus’ “heel,” but Jesus displayed complete dominance over Satan by bruising his “head.”
Satan, though still active in this world, is a defeated enemy. His fate is certain: “And the devil . . . was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur” «And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. », (Revelation 20:10). Until that moment, there remains enmity between Satan and God’s children.
The protoevangelium reveals that God always had the plan of salvation in mind and disclosed His plan as soon as sin entered the world. Satan devised a scheme involving the serpent in Eden, but God was far ahead of him, having already appointed the Serpent-crusher. Jesus Christ perfectly accomplished God’s mission: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” «He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. », (1 John 3:8).
