ENEMIES
TEXT: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)
Normally my answer would be “No.” We learn even as children that it’s not good to be enemies with other people. Our parents tell us, “Say you’re sorry,” and “Be nice and make up with each other. Don’t be enemies.”
But in the case of humanity and the devil, enmity isn’t a bad thing—in fact, it’s a gift.
Hear what God says to the devil right after Adam and Eve disobeyed God. He says, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.” Up to this point human beings and the devil haven’t been relating to each other as enemies—and that’s the problem. When the devil was tempting her, Eve listened to the devil as if he were a friend. Adam and Eve took the devil’s suggestion as if he had their best interests at heart—which of course he didn’t. Sounds like a little enmity is just what’s needed in this situation!
And so God gives it to them. But the enmity didn’t come out of nowhere. God says, “I will put enmity … between your offspring and her offspring.” Who is He talking about? Why, about Jesus, the promised Savior who would be the descendant of Eve and overcome all the offspring of the devil—that is, all evil powers that harm humanity.
Because Jesus is God Himself, He knew the devil for what He was—a rebel, a liar, and a murderer. And so Jesus took human flesh in defense of humanity, the people He chose to love as His own. As true man, He overcame our enemy through His own death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. He broke the power of evil over everyone who trusts in Him. And now He shares that same victory over our enemy with everyone who loves Him. Than You, Lord!
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for saving us from our enemy and making us to be Your friends—better than that, Your own family. We love You, Lord. Amen.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Who was your worst enemy when you were a child? Why couldn’t you get along?
Do you have enemies now, as an adult? If so, how do you deal with them?
What particular evils or temptations would you like to be “better enemies” with?
Copyright is owned by the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, and used with permission of the Lutheran Hour Ministries, all rights reserved. Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
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