Advent: Day 4

Is there hope? Fortunately, God did not leave us without a Redeemer. Our mediation this day of Advent moves us forward to the first mention of the good news. Even in the midst of the curse that God places on all of creation because of the sin of Adam, He promises a Redeemer:

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
    and you shall bruise his heel. (Ge. 3:15)

This is often referred to as the protoevangelion because it is the first promise of the good news of a Savior. It is also sometimes called the "covenant of commencement," for here God commits Himself to redeem a people to Himself and destroy satan, who used the serpent as his tool (Re. 20:2). It is significant that Paul alludes to this commitment to guarantee the triumph of the redeemed over satan: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Ro. 16:20, cf. Ge. 3:15).

While the beginning may look bleak and sin seems to have triumphed, God gives us a glimmer of hope that anticipates the coming of His Son to redeem His people. Sin may have won a battle, but the war is far from over.

By His Grace,
Taylor