Immediately after Adam and Eve gave in to Satan and loosed evil in the world, God responded first by cursing the serpent:

So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals!  You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

Genesis 3:14 NIV

This was followed by a prophecy that we can now understand relates to how God would resolve the problem and redeem his creation from sin.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15 NIV

This is our first hint about God’s plan to send a Redeemer.  He would be a descendant of Eve (Eve’s seed, or offspring), but not of Adam.  And he would engage in battle with Satan.  At the climax of that battle, Satan would wound our Redeemer’s heel – a wound that isn’t fatal.  But Satan would receive a crushed head – a fatal wound.

Facets of Redemption Found in this Picture:

• It has always been God’s plan to redeem creation through a descendant of Eve, but not a descendant of Adam.
• God’s chosen Redeemer will engage Satan in battle.  He will be wounded by Satan, but will defeat Satan absolutely, though not immediately.