Who were Adam and Eve hiding from in Genesis 3? Well, obviously it was God. But let’s be a bit more specific. Was it perhaps one of the three persons of the Trinity?

The Trinity is implicit in the creation account of Genesis, from the very first verse.

In the beginning, God created … (Genesis 1:1)

The Word is Jesus

The word that is translated as God is a plural form, implying three or more. The context of Genesis 1 suggests just three. Yet the verb translated as ‘created’ is in the singular form. Bearing in mind what we know from elsewhere in the scriptures, this seems to imply that there is one God who created, but who exists in three persons. The Father is not named in Genesis 1, but we can assume that He is there, because no one—not even Unitarians or Modalists—disputes that the Father is God. The Spirit was present, hovering over the deep, in a sense providing energy for the new creation. But when we read that “God said …,” the Bible is referring to the Word of God, as in John 1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

John makes clear that the Word was and is God. This Word is Jesus. It makes sense that our human communication with God is through the Second Person of the Trinity.

So the proclamations and questions made by God in Genesis 3 are the words of Jesus. I often wish that those who call themselves “Red Letter Christians,” as if only the bits colored red in some of our Bible editions are inspired, would print these parts of Genesis 3 in red also.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)

God stepped into history

These are words of judgment to the serpent, and words of hope to Adam and Eve. God is promising the Seed of the Woman. But in Hebrew, ‘seed’ refers to the descendant of a man. And in Biology, the seed comes from the man. So how can there be the Seed of the Woman? The implication would seem to be that one day there was to come a man, who was to have an earthly mother, but not an earthly father, and therefore would not inherit the curse of original sin from Adam. This is, therefore, the first prophecy of the Virgin Birth, and the Seed of the Woman is Jesus. Yet, if our conjecture above is right, the promise was being delivered by Jesus Himself! And what makes this first declaration of the Gospel even more exciting is that it is given immediately after the first sin. God was not going to leave His people with no means of salvation. From the time of the first sin onwards, there has been a means of salvation, which is announced by Jesus and fulfilled by Jesus, the Son of God. And the event that fulfilled the first part of the prophecy is what we celebrate at Christmas. God stepped into history Himself in the person of Jesus Christ our Savior.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:15-18)

Christmas, a time of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, was foretold in Genesis! God is the one who makes promises and keeps them. Have you trusted in His promises? If not, you should do that today! His biggest promise is the gift of Eternal Life! Read more about that promise here: How To Be Saved