2nd Devotion : Wednesday, July 1st, 2026

Theme : "Protoevangelium": God's Plan of Salvation in the Mission of Globalization

Scripture : Genesis 3:1-24; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:14

The fall of the first humans, Adam and Eve, is depicted very clearly in the Bible. This story begins with the introduction of the serpent as the craftiest of all the wild animals in the Garden of Eden. The serpent came to the woman and said, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1).

This question was not just an ordinary inquiry. The serpent was steering Eve to doubt the word of God. Eve then tried to explain that there was fruit they were allowed to eat, and there was one specific fruit that God had forbidden them from eating. From that answer, the serpent knew there was a boundary God had set for humanity. Unfortunately, the serpent used that boundary to attack human faith, saying, “You will not certainly die” (Genesis 3:4).

Notice that the serpent did not force Eve to eat the fruit. He simply altered her perspective on God's word. The word that was previously obeyed began to be questioned. The serpent planted the idea that eating the fruit was not dangerous; in fact, he claimed it would make humans like God, knowing good and evil.

To cut a long story short, the woman took some of the fruit and ate it, and then gave some to her husband. At that moment, their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked. Sin had entered human life.

As a result of sin, humanity's relationship with God was broken. Adam blamed the woman whom God had placed by his side, while the woman blamed the serpent who had deceived her. Not a single person said, "We have sinned, forgive us." Their perspective on God’s word had shifted: from obeying God to following the deception of the serpent, who is the Devil.

Yet, this story does not end with the fall of humanity. In Genesis 3:14, God begins to pronounce His judgment upon the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.”

The word “cursed” comes from the Hebrew word arur, which carries the meaning of humiliation and total defeat. In ancient Near Eastern culture, "eating dust" was a symbol of absolute humiliation and utter failure. The serpent, previously described as the craftiest, was now placed in the lowest position. This verse is an announcement of the final defeat of Satan, which would later be fully fulfilled.

Then, in Genesis 3:15, God declares a profoundly important promise in the history of human salvation: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” In Christian theology, this verse is known as the protoevangelium or protoevangelion, derived from the Greek words protos (first) and evangelion (Gospel or good news). It literally means "the first Gospel."

This is the very first time God reveals His plan of salvation for a humanity fallen into sin. Even though humans failed, God did not abandon His creation. He promised that one day, an offspring of the woman would destroy the power of the serpent, which is the Devil.

For Christians, this promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Christ defeated sin, death, and the power of Satan. Indeed, His heel was "struck" through His suffering and the cross, but the serpent's head was crushed through the victory of His resurrection.