# The first promise

Advent devotional for Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Day 3 of 27.

> I will set hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers. He will wound your head, and you will wound his heel.” ([Genesis 3:15](https://www.lumin.faith/read/genesis/3#15), Lumin Translation)

Christmas starts here, in a garden, right after everything goes wrong. Adam and Eve have hidden from God. God comes looking and calls out, “Where are you?” ([Genesis 3:9](https://www.lumin.faith/read/genesis/3#9)).

In the middle of the judgment comes a promise. A child of the woman will one day wound the serpent’s head, and be wounded doing it.

Christians have long read this as the first hint of Jesus. Genesis gives no name and no date. It gives a direction: God will not leave his people to the snake. He will send someone. The rest of Advent follows that thread.

## Prayer

God who comes looking, thank you that your first word after the fall was a promise. When I hide from you, call me out again. Amen.

## A question to carry

Where do you tend to hide from God?

Read the whole chapter: [Genesis 3](https://www.lumin.faith/read/genesis/3)

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/advent/december-1