God's Plan

            GOD’S PLAN  

                                       

First of nine devotions in Incarnation Parallel Bible Study series

Genesis 3:15, Galatians 4:4

God’s continued His curse on the serpent (verse 14), after Adam and Eve sinned in Genesis 3:15:  “And I will put enmity between you [the snake, or Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

            Incarnation [in-kar-NA-shon] means embodiment or personification of God.  Jesus is wholly God, as Son of God and Son of Man.  Incarnation—God in man—was the Father’s plan for how sinful people could live with Him forever.

            Jesus was the fullness of God as a tiny baby.  He would grow up recognizing Himself human, lay aside His glory and become a servant (Philippians 2:7-8).  He’d mature in wisdom (Luke 2:52), and humble Himself (Matthew 11:29).  Jesus would live a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21).  He’d sacrifice Himself to die on the cross—sure that He’d be resurrected back to life.

            Jesus agreed to fulfill the Father’s plan, because of His love for us!

            God knew at creation that man would disobey His one command (Genesis 2:16-17).  (God is omniscient; [om-NEESH-i-ent] means all-knowing).  He leaked out code words revealing His plan when cursing the serpent. 

            But His plan would take time.  Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  This devotion series will introduce the Bible’s Old Testament Christian Patriarchs, ancestors of baby Jesus.  The New Testament shows Jesus ushering in God’s new covenant of grace.  (Emphasis mine).

            Code words?  …“he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”   Neither the serpent, Adam and Eve, nor an unbelieving world had a clue what God was talking about.  God planned for Jesus’ defeating Satan, or “crushing his head” at His resurrection from the dead.  Because Satan is prince of this world (John 12:31), every time people sin, we strike Jesus’ heel—and Satan is laughing. 

            Note: God cursed the snake “above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:14).  God cursed the ground in Genesis 3:17.  But God did not curse Adam and Eve; He judged them.  Eve would have pain during childbirth and desire her husband—who’d rule over her (Genesis 3:16).

           Adam would toil painfully among thorns and thistles for food from the field (Genesis 3:18-19).

Take Home Nugget

            Jesus’s victory over Satan is what all believers share (Romans 16:20).

  

God planned for people to live with Him forever—from the very beginning!

J.D. Griffith

           

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