GOD’S WORD OF MERCY (2)

“…He shall bruise your head, and YOU SHALL BRUISE HIS HEEL” – Genesis 3:15b

Right in the core of His pronouncement of Judgement was GOD’S WORD of MERCY: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and YOU SHALL BRUISE HIS HEEL” (Gen.3:15). Sin has its predictable penalties, and the result of Adam's sin was death – separation from God, and a curse of hard labour for both the man and the woman during their life-struggle on earth. This separation was immediately evident in fear, nakedness, shame, and blame-sharing or buck-passing (vv.9-13). In response, first, God cursed the serpent who is called the devil and Satan, and who deceives the whole world (vv.14-15). Then, He pronounced judgement on Adam and Eve and explained the long-term consequences of their wretched sin and disobedience (vv.16-19).

Amidst the pronounced judgement and proclaimed sentence, we perceive Mercy and discover a profound promise. Inside God’s righteous sentence on sin, was nestled a gracious provision which would secure salvation for Adam's fallen race through a sin-substitute. Although God would put enmity between Satan and humanity, and between the seed of the serpent and that of the woman, the later shall bruise the serpent’s head, and remove God's curse forever. Yes, God's chosen Saviour would have His heel bruised in the process, but the death of the One would triumph over the power of the other, death itself would lose its sting, and Satan himself would be vanquished forever.

This was the very first prophecy of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Adam and Eve had just heard in God’s judgement on the serpent, His Plan to restore what had been lost by their betrayal and rebellion against their Creator. Satan had been given dominion over the earth by Adam’s disobedience. But God, who is rich in Mercy, limited Satan’s dominion, according to His mysterious plan (Eph.2:4). The serpent would strike the heel of the Seed of the woman, but in so doing he would have his head crushed (Col. 2:15). God’s restoration of the world after the failure of the first Adam was manifested in the success of the last Adam (1Cor.15: 45-49). Whoever puts their faith in Christ to save them will experience a taste of the coming restoration in this life and eternal bliss in the fullness of restoration in the next.

One result of the original sin would be a perpetual struggle between the satanic forces and humankind until its final completion, and Christ becomes all in all. But until that time, there would be ongoing hostility and bitter enmity between the woman and her human offspring, and Satan, his demonic forces, and all who choose to serve in the kingdom of darkness. Satan and sin were defeated at the Cross by the death of Christ and His shed blood. Two thousand years ago the promised Seed of the woman crushed the head of the serpent and defeated man's bitter enemy at the Cross, where His heel was bruised on account of our iniquity and sin. But His blood cleanses sin for all who believe!

Christ’s death was a powerful blow that crushed Satan’s head. Jesus became the ultimate Sacrifice to end all sacrifices, devastate the enemy and break all of his power. This was Mercy – Compassion in Action! Chuck Swindoll calls it “God’s ministry to the miserable”! The Mercy of God is the Answer to the misery of men: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Psa.103:8). God is full of Mercy; great in Mercy, and rich in Mercy! So full of Mercy, it overflows: “The earth, O LORD, is FULL of Your MERCY” (Psa.119:64a). God is Great in Mercy (Psa.145:8). God is Rich in Mercy (Eph.2:4). GOD’S WORD of MERCY devastates the devil, keeps us liberated from every misery!