The Promise

Written by Pastor Kyle Jones

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”. (Genesis 3:15)

In the midst of the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind, God made a promise. In the aftermath of humanity’s fall into sin, God declared enmity between the serpent and the woman, and between the serpent's offspring and hers. The verse culminates with a prophetic statement: “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” At first glance, this might seem like a cryptic judgment, but it is, in fact, the first glimmer of hope in a darkened world—a promise of ultimate redemption.

From the very beginning, God reveals His plan to defeat evil through the offspring of the woman, pointing forward to Jesus Christ. The imagery of bruising or crushing the head of the serpent signifies a fatal blow, one that will ultimately destroy the power and influence of sin and Satan. In contrast, the serpent’s strike at the heel represents a wound—a real but temporary affliction. This foreshadows the suffering of Christ on the cross, where He would bear the sins of the world. Though Jesus would suffer and die, His resurrection marked the decisive victory over sin, death, and the devil, fulfilling the ancient promise of Genesis 3:15.

This verse not only reveals God’s justice but also His incredible mercy. Despite humanity’s rebellion, God announced His plan of salvation that will come through the very lineage that fell into sin. It highlights God’s commitment to His creation, showing that He is not distant or indifferent but deeply involved in our redemption. The promise of Genesis 3:15 reverberates throughout the Bible, pointing to a Savior who would crush the head of the serpent and restore what was lost in Eden.

Genesis 3:15 serves as a reminder that even in our darkest moments, God’s light breaks through. It is a testament to His unchanging character—He is both just and loving, righteous and gracious. When we see the brokenness in the world, we can look back to this ancient promise and find hope, knowing that God has already set in motion a plan to defeat evil. The seed of the woman, Jesus Christ, has come, and through His life, death, and resurrection, the serpent’s power is crushed. As believers, we live in the tension of the already and the not yet, where the victory is won, but the final restoration is still to come. As we navigate the trials of life, we do so with the confidence that the serpent’s defeat is certain, and one day, Christ will return to fully and finally crush all evil underfoot. This promise, first whispered in Eden, continues to echo through history, pointing us to the hope of redemption and the unwavering faithfulness of our God.

Image by Thanti Riess at Unsplash