The blessing in a curse
“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.” Genesis 3:15
In the very first book of the Bible, at the very outset, after the first human rebellion, we encounter this declaration that theologians call the "Proto-Evangel", or the "First Gospel". A statement that does not make sense unless understood in the light of the Cross. Through the ages, it has cheered the hearts of Christians who have seen that the “Cross” was the bruising of the heel, and it was a gateway to the ultimate triumph of God, and their salvation.
But there is another thing that is very significant. This verse occurs right in the centre of a series of curses. The three parties to the rebellion are facing God – the serpent, Eve, and Adam; And God addresses them in that order. The serpent is cursed, but before the punitive action is announced against humanity for their great rebellion, God puts a promise of a glorious redemptive blessing! God’s work, even His disciplinary work, is towards a redemptive purpose! Before the effects of the descent of man are enumerated, the blueprint of the stairway of his ascent is deliberated!
Even in His curse there lies a blessing. I think King David understood this better than anyone else and therefore said, “Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 2 Samuel 24:14. In contrast, a skeptic commenting on sufferings of Job writes, “Christians have been tricked into loving [God] because they believe this God-king, can do anything he wants to do, call it good, and then demand that his subjects worship him. But I say no. This God is merely bigger than us, if he exists, and that's all. He's the biggest boy on the block. He can push us around, cause us to suffer, and punish us all he wants to. But I will not be tricked into loving and/or worshipping this bully.” 1
At the center of a heart that can genuinely trust God in all things is the unshakeable understanding that God’s work is always redemptive. All the questions like “why God, why me?” are put to rest if we can only catch a glimpse of the redemptive character of God. Throughout the pages of the Old Testament we see a faint glimpse of this until its fullness is strikingly revealed in the pages of the Gospel, as Jesus cries out on the cross, “It is finished”.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the final testament to God’s redemptive character, and unless we grasp this shining truth, we will never be able to trust God completely.
Danesh
References
John Loftus, “Why Trust God?” on debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com
In the very first book of the Bible, at the very outset, after the first human rebellion, we encounter this declaration that theologians call the "Proto-Evangel", or the "First Gospel". A statement that does not make sense unless understood in the light of the Cross. Through the ages, it has cheered the hearts of Christians who have seen that the “Cross” was the bruising of the heel, and it was a gateway to the ultimate triumph of God, and their salvation.
But there is another thing that is very significant. This verse occurs right in the centre of a series of curses. The three parties to the rebellion are facing God – the serpent, Eve, and Adam; And God addresses them in that order. The serpent is cursed, but before the punitive action is announced against humanity for their great rebellion, God puts a promise of a glorious redemptive blessing! God’s work, even His disciplinary work, is towards a redemptive purpose! Before the effects of the descent of man are enumerated, the blueprint of the stairway of his ascent is deliberated!
Even in His curse there lies a blessing. I think King David understood this better than anyone else and therefore said, “Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 2 Samuel 24:14. In contrast, a skeptic commenting on sufferings of Job writes, “Christians have been tricked into loving [God] because they believe this God-king, can do anything he wants to do, call it good, and then demand that his subjects worship him. But I say no. This God is merely bigger than us, if he exists, and that's all. He's the biggest boy on the block. He can push us around, cause us to suffer, and punish us all he wants to. But I will not be tricked into loving and/or worshipping this bully.” 1
At the center of a heart that can genuinely trust God in all things is the unshakeable understanding that God’s work is always redemptive. All the questions like “why God, why me?” are put to rest if we can only catch a glimpse of the redemptive character of God. Throughout the pages of the Old Testament we see a faint glimpse of this until its fullness is strikingly revealed in the pages of the Gospel, as Jesus cries out on the cross, “It is finished”.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the final testament to God’s redemptive character, and unless we grasp this shining truth, we will never be able to trust God completely.
Danesh
References
John Loftus, “Why Trust God?” on debunkingchristianity.blogspot.com
posted by Danesh Manik | 11:03 AM
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