"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." (Gen 3:15)
Gen 3:15 is considered the first prophecy of the Messiah. Well, notice its militant tone and see it comes amid a curse. God is reacting to the harm caused by the serpent: "Because you have done this," stated in verse 14.
Christ is the great Kinsman Redeemer and one aspect of that role is as the Avenger of Blood. This is why when God went down to redeem His people out of Egypt, He also devastated that nation (Ex 6:6) and killed all her firstborn.
Now, it is obvious Jesus Christ embodies this initial prophecy. His ministry was an intense fulfillment of it, for He said He cast out demons by binding the strong man to rob his house (Mk 3:27). The Apostle John declared, "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jn 3:8).
One demon, as he was about to be cast out by Jesus, wailed, "Have You come here to torment us before the time?" (Mat 8:29). Yes, before that time, because the curse of God covers all the time leading up to that day he dreads. "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Col 2:15). He accomplished that long before the day the demon spoke of! The curse God pronounced has been at work for millennia, though it will culminate in the utter destruction of the serpent, with his head crushed.
Praise Jesus Who is greater than our father Abraham! For Abraham called out his household to rescue Lot, routing those that took him captive and bringing him home. But Jesus Christ invaded enemy territory, more thoroughly routed even worse enemies, and rescued millions beyond count!
But notice, Abraham called out his household. They participated in the daring raid with him. Look again at that initial Messianic prophecy and change your focus. See how it is referring to the bride of the Son of God and her seed. The Church is the Bride of Christ and the word "seed" is like the word "deer" and "fish": it can refer to many, as well as to one.
Therefore, Jesus sent out a group, two by two, empowering them to cast out demons. It was at their triumphant return that He exclaimed, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Lk 10:18). That power remains shed abroad upon His church. Therefore, the Apostle Paul links us directly to the initial messianic prophecy with this great promise: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (Rom 16:20).
We are to resist the enemy who is still looking for whom he can devour. We fight as we save, since rescuing a patient often involves fighting the disease ravaging him. And our weapons are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Cor 10:4).
This is no time to give the enemy a reprieve! Read the opening verse again and see it was God Himself who put enmity between Satan’s camp and ours. Satan and his ilk are still busy striking at the heel, but that merely positions their heads for us to crush, if we only dare to do it. The Spirit assures us that this is an "honor for all His godly ones" - "to execute on them the judgment written!" (Ps 149:9).
I’ll end the same way that verse does: Praise the LORD!
- Matt Schilling
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