The Gospel, Part Two
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
3/26 Reading Portions: Exodus 37; John 16; Proverbs 13; Ephesians 6
Genesis 3:14-15
The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 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.”
CURSED
Through the Lord Jesus Messiah, Satan has been defeated. Right here, in the garden, Satan has been handed the consequences of his defiance against a good and holy God. As an angel, Satan desired to exalt himself, to be like the Most High God (Isa 14:12-14). By deceiving man, who was made a little lower than the angels and who was given dominion over the animals (Gen 1:26; Psa 8:4-5), Satan has been cursed to a station that is even lower than all livestock and all beasts of the field. Moreover, while upon our feet we wear gospel shoes in Christ Jesus (Eph 6:15; see the armor of God, Parts One and Two), Satan does not have a leg to stand on (on your belly you shall go). His only nourishment (dust you shall eat all the days of your life) is from the rebellious souls of defiant human beings who oppose God, because they are dead in their trespasses and sins (Gen 3:19; Eph 2:1-3). He cannot, nay, will not find nourishment in God’s people, Christ’s redeemed saints. Satan will oppose us. He does hate us. But he cannot feed upon Christ’s body. That nourishment is reserved for saved souls alone, as it is written:
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Corinthians 11:26-29
This has been accomplished through the truth of the enmity between Satan and the virgin born Son of the woman, which we will consider tomorrow. Hallelujah! What a Savior!