Advent #4 of 10:

The seed of the woman will crush the serpent.

(Genesis 3:15)

The serpent’s temptation brings about “the curse”. But tucked away somewhere deep down in the curse there is hope: “Creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope” (Ro 8:20). This hope has to do with the woman. It is a hope at first vague and riddled, but a hope that will make its way all the way to Bethlehem.

The curse brings futility and death to God’s good creation: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Gn 3:19). But, if one looks closely, you will notice that God’s “No” has a “Yes” in it. That’s just the way God is. The curse will not be the last word.

God’s “Yes” has to do with the woman:  First, in the midst of death she will bring forth life. It is such a wonder that her name will be changed from Woman to Eve, “the life giver”. Because of her, “with the help of the Lord,” life goes on—humanity lives on.  It is life unto death, but life nonetheless—enough life to see something of us living on in our children and our children’s children.  Second, and an even greater wonder, the wonder of all wonders, from woman and her seed will come The Woman whose offspring will turn the tables on the serpent. That’s the riddled part—a riddle placed right at the beginning of the curse—a hint that there is from the beginning something tucked away down deep in the curse that will someday turn the tables bringing an end to death and liberating us to life eternal.

That’s how we sing it when Christmas comes: “He comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found…” (Joy to the World).