…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.
Gen. 3:15 (NIV)
When Eve heard from the serpent, the future scenario appeared positive. The immediate result of stepping outside the realm of obedient trust in God opened the eyes of Adam and Eve. The fruit they ate probably not even digested yet, but soon they realized there is no pleasure in their new conscience of good and evil. As a result, they tried to hide their moral shame with fig leaves. Yes, the first humans were engulfed with regret like a spouse who committed adultery, not able to face God anymore. God’s image-bearers became rivalries of God.
But God comes in and takes up the quarrel personally, puts eternal enmity between humans and the chief perpetrator serpent. Because serpent and woman once allied against God. Before pronouncing any kind of judgment upon Adam and Eve, God first addressed their enemy who had successfully deceived them. He promised that one day a Rescuer, the offspring of Eve would come and crush Satan’s head in order to deliver her and her children from their enemies. Jesus is Eve’s offspring. This symbolism portrayed in the opening scene of Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ, where Jesus slammed a snake’s head which was crawling over one of his legs. But, by going to the cross, Jesus crushed the serpent’s head through his death and glorious resurrection.
Once I was stung by a honey-bee and the stung area became swollen and appeared reddish. A physician performed a tiny cut to remove the venomous sting under the skin to avoid further infection. We need someone to help us to reunite with God. It requires the removal of the sting of sin caused by our rebellion against God. Our very natures have been polluted by the serpent’s venom. Paul says, “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10). Even before the penalty, God promised Adam and Eve with the first good news of Jesus the Redeemer crushing Serpent’s head. In this advent season, we will rejoice and remember the incarnation of Christ, the Offspring of the Woman, the Promised Rescuer and the second Adam born to redeem His people!