| Genesis 3:1–15
God dealt with what Adam & Eve had done but he secured his own purpose by making a promise about a ‘Seed’ or Son who would destroy all that the Serpent had initiated. From the beginning, we have had the promise of this coming Son of woman who would accomplish all God’s purpose.
Adam and Eve rebelled against God by listening to the temptation of the serpent or Satan. It would seem that Satan’s plan rather than God’s would succeed. But God told Satan that a child born to the woman would crush his head. We should always regard Satan as the one who will be crushed by this son.
Christ is this son, born among us, but also, God’s Son. God has taught us to trust in his Son and not give up when we see the trouble that sin has caused.
Genesis 12:1-2; 15:1-6; 17:1-6 God had promised that Abraham would be a blessing in the world (Gen. 12:1-2) but he had no son through which that could happen. Now God would enable him, although very old, to have a son. Abraham believed this, and God regarded him as a righteous man, not because of what he had done but because he believed what God said about the coming son.
Isaiah 7:9b-16; 8:11-15; 9:2, 6–7
Israel waited and wondered to see how God would fulfill his promise. If they would not believe, they would not be helped by God (Isa. 7:9). King Ahaz would not believe, but God still showed him that he was faithful through the birth of a baby, called Emmanuel, who would still be a baby when all the troubles Ahaz worried about were gone. Then, God would surely give them a son who would be a counsellor working wonders, the mighty God and everlasting Father among them and he would establish peace by his reign.
Micah 5:2
Among the uncertain days that lay ahead, Micah saw a time when Jerusalem would be surrounded with armies. But to the South, in Bethlehem, a king would be born. David’s origins had been in Bethlehem, and now, another David would arise to lead his people like a shepherd (I Sam. 5:4).
The Gospel writer, Matthew, recognised that this king was Jesus Christ (Matt. 2:6) who had been purposed from ancient times to be Israel’s king. God had never abandoned his people but would give them a king, whose strength and majesty were in God, and who would be acknowledged in the world. He would establish peace (Isa 9:7) and raise up a leadership to withstand the enemy.
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