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The Promise of a Coming...

 

Daily Reading

Genesis 3:14-15, 21 >

 

The last text you might expect when reading an Advent devotional is God's curse of the serpent from the Genesis account of the Fall. But this text holds the key to Christmas; here begins the promise of a coming Messiah, culminating in Jesus' birth. The serpent deceives Eve, and she and Adam choose to believe his lie, that "God is not good; you need what God has forbidden to be really fulfilled." Hard to believe they would fall for this line, isn't it? But equally incredible is God's response. In the immediate aftermath of Adam and Eve's rebellion, while cursing the tempter and describing sin's damaging effects, God tells them He will make everything right: the offspring of the woman will deal a death blow to the serpent.

 

Then God does something amazing. In verse 21, God acknowledges the nakedness of Adam and Eve and their ensuing shame by covering them; he does so with the skins of animals, the creatures they were entrusted to protect. Everything has been cursed by their rebellion and the entire creation is dropped into devastation; these bloody skins, draped over their bodies to hide their shame, highlight their failure to care for the creation or their relationship with God. At this moment comes certainty that Advent has started; all creation begins to long for the coming of the Redeemer Messiah.

 

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