Have you ever watched a television series or movie that contained an unexpected plot twist? It often takes significant time to develop and will come out of nowhere, but when it’s done well, all your friends and social media won’t stop talking about it!
The Bible, which contains the greatest story ever told, also contains the best plot twist ever written. As we commit to reading this story in the New Year, we’re looking for one (or more) of four themes in every passage: Creation. Slavery. Redemption. Restoration.
REDEMPTION
After the opening scene of Creation comes the devastation of Slavery. But then comes the plot twist, which contains the glorious, good news of Redemption.
Unlike most plot twists, this turn takes no time to develop at all. God in his mercy intervenes immediately! And because we’re so familiar with our Bible and know the end of the story, it doesn’t take us by surprise any longer.
But let’s not allow familiarity to cause us to breeze past the plot twist of Genesis 3:15. Don’t take this verse granted. Allow the astonishment of this plot twist to cause gratitude, celebration, and motivation in your everyday life.
“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.”
What Adam and Eve did by eating the fruit was an in-your-face act of self-centered rebellion. God had every right to judge and punish them—and he did—but shockingly, that was not the end of the story.
If the story of Adam and Eve were a movie or series, we would expect their removal from the garden and then fade to black. I don’t know about you, but I probably would have reacted differently. I know I do in my everyday relationships!
But the God writing the script is a God of glorious grace, and grace leads the biblical story in a very different direction.
God announced immediately after the rebellion of Adam and Eve that he was not only going to judge sin, but that he would defeat it forever.
Who is the offspring that God was talking about? It is the son of Mary, the son of David, the Son of Man, the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah. Where did this bruising take place? It took place on that hill called Golgotha, outside the walls of Jerusalem.
On the cross, Jesus was bruised, but the enemy was defeated forever. Yes, Jesus died, but the grave could not hold him, and with resurrection power, he now reigns until the final enemy is under his feet.
It is a plot twist of astounding mercy granted to rebels, of amazing grace bestowed upon fools. It is a radical, unexpected plot twist of hope and help for every sinner. It is the plot twist that gets me up in the morning, and I hope it does the same for you.
Whenever you read your Bible, look for the theme of redemption. Be grateful for the plot twist in Genesis 3 that sets the trajectory for every other chapter that follows. Celebrate that, by grace, you have been included in this narrative.
And then, be motivated to live obediently in light of that redemptive plot twist in your everyday life.
Colossians 1 reminds us that, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (vv. 13-14).
So then, how should we live? “Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (vv. 10-12).
A Prayer for Today: Lord, I am so grateful for the fact that you have included me in the narrative of redemption. By your grace, I am your child, forever changed by your loving initiative to rescue me from my sin. God, would you help me to live obediently to your will each and every day in light of the redemptive plot twist I read about in your Word. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
God bless,
Paul Tripp
Discussion Prompt for Children:
• Is there any story you’ve read or seen lately that has taken you by surprise? Are there any stories from the Bible that have been surprising to you?
• Let’s read Genesis 3:15 together and talk about what is surprising about this part of the Bible.
Reflection Questions
1. How has familiarity with the story of redemption dulled your senses and appreciation for how incredible it really is? How have you allowed your familiarity with Genesis 3 to mute the plot twist of verse 15? How have you taken this “plot twist” for granted?
2. How have you experienced the God of glorious grace recently? Take some time to jot down a few examples from your life, and then pray in thanksgiving to God about how he has lavished you or others around you with unearned favor.
3. What is it about the plot twist of hope and help that gets you up in the morning? If it doesn’t, where is the gap between your enthusiasm for God’s grace and your daily living? What might you specifically pray to ask for that gap to close? What might God be calling you to specifically do to see that gap close?
4. Who in your life could walk alongside you and encourage you to live obediently in light of the redemptive plot twist in Genesis 3? What would it practically look like for you to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1: 10-11)?
