Advent is a season that invites us into holy anticipation. For four weeks leading up to Christmas, Christians around the world pause to remember what it means to wait for Christ’s coming. Not just the baby born in Bethlehem, but the Savior who is coming again in glory. Advent reminds us that we live in between two arrivals, holding onto promises that are both fulfilled and still unfolding.
The first week of Advent centers on hope; not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation rooted in God’s faithfulness. This week, we step into a story far older than the nativity scene. Before Mary and Joseph ever walked the road to Bethlehem, before shepherds heard angels singing, before even the prophets spoke, hope began in the heart of God Himself.
In this Bible study, we’ll explore the unfolding story of hope throughout the Scripture. We will pause to look at the people who waited, the promises God made, and the ways He faithfully worked across generations to bring us the Messiah. And finally, we’ll reflect on what this means for our lives, because Advent is not only a story we remember; it’s a truth we live.
Hope Begins in the Dark (Genesis 3:15)
It may surprise you to learn that the first Advent promise wasn’t spoken in a peaceful garden or a shining temple. It was spoken in the aftermath of Adam & Eve’s fall. Genesis 3 records one of the darkest moments in Scripture: the moment sin entered the world. Yet in that very hour judgment was given. God first hinted at His redemption plan.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your heard, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Genesis 3:15 NKJV
This verse is called the Protoevangelium, which means “the first gospel.” It foretells that a descendant of Eve will defeat the serpent. In other words, Jesus Christ was promised before humanity even left the Garden.
When everything seemed broken beyond repair, God planted a seed of hope. This is good news for us today. Hope isn’t something we muster when life feels easy. Hope’s born in the dark places; in uncertainty, in grief, in waiting, in unanswered questions. Advent reminds us that God does His greatest work when life feels the most fragile.
Hope Promised Through a Family (Genesis 12:1-3)
The story moves forward to a man named Abram who lived in Mesopotamia. God calls him to leave everything familiar and enter a promise far larger than Himself.
“Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV
This blessing ultimately points to Christ. The apostle Paul explains that the “offspring” promised to Abraham refers to one person—Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16). Through Abraham’s family line, God would one day send the Savior who would bring redemption not to one nation, but to all nations.
Advent is a universal invitation to hope—every single tribe, tongue, and people are included in the blessing God promises.
For us, this means that the hope of Advent isn’t fragile or limited. What God begins, He completes. What He promises, He fulfills, even if the journey takes centuries.
Hope Declared Through a Tribe (Genesis 49:10)
As the centuries passed, Abraham’s descendants grew into the nation of Israel. Near the end of his life, Jacob blessed his twelve sons. Over his son Judah, he spoke a prophecy that pointed directly toward the Messiah:
“The scepter shall now depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
Genesis 49:10 NKJV
The scepter is a symbol of kingship. This prophecy revealed that God’s chosen King would come from the tribe of Judah. From this line came King David, and from David came the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-17).
This matters because it shows the precision of God’s plan. The arrival of Jesus is not a sentimental story. It’s the culmination of generations of divine intentionality.
God did not improvise the plan of salvation. He orchestrated it with care, purpose, and covenant faithfulness.
Hope Given Through a King (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
God’s covenant with David stands as one of the most important promises in the Old Testament:
“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
2 Samuel 7:12-13 NKJV
This promise could never be fulfilled by human royalty. Israel’s kings were flawed, limited, and mortal. But God promised a King whose throne would never end. This eternal kingdom points directly to Jesus Christ.
When we read the Christmas story, we often imagine the quiet humility of the stable. But behind that gentle scene stands this staggering truth: The baby in the manger is the eternal King of David’s line.
He’s not merely born; He was promised. He’s not merely visiting; He’s reigning.
This changes everything about the way we understand hope. Hope is not an emotion; it’s a Person, a King whose throne can’t be shaken by the passage of time or the turmoil of nations.
Hope Foretold by the Prophets (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Six hundred years before Christ, Jeremiah wrote during a time of deep national crisis. Corruption filled the land, injustice was everywhere, and the people felt abandoned. Into the darkness, God spoke:
“‘Behold the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth…’”
Jeremiah 23:5 NKJV
The prophets describe this coming King as:
- Wise
- Righteous
- Just
- Faithful
In other words, He will be the King every generation longs for.
We live in a world where headlines are discouraging, and leadership failures are common. Yet Advent tells us that the King is coming! And He is glorious!
Jesus isn’t indifferent to injustice. He’s not passive about suffering. His rule brings justice, mercy, and restoration. Advent trains our hearts to long for His kingdom; to desire more than what this world offers.
Hope Expressed Through Waiting (Psalm 130:5-6)
Our theme verse for the first week in Advent is Psalm 130:5-6 NKJV, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lore more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning.”
This is a powerful image. A watchman (those who watch for the morning) on the night shift can’t bring dawn faster. But he knows without question that the dawn will come. His confidence isn’t in his effort, but in the certainty of the sun’s rising.
This is Advent hope. We wait, not in fear or uncertainty, but in assurance grounded in God’s promises.
We wait for:
- God to move.
- God to speak.
- God to heal.
- God to restore.
- God to return.
Not because we see how everything will unfold, but because we know God never fails to keep His Word.
Hope Fulfilled in Christ
All the stories, prophecies, genealogies, covenants, and promises of the Old Testament move toward one moment in history:
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11 NKJV
Hope became flesh. Hope took on a heartbeat. Hope was wrapped in swaddling cloths. Jesus is the embodiment of every Old Testament hope:
- The Seed who crushes the serpent.
- The descendant Who blesses the nations.
- The Lion of Judah.
- The Son of David.
- The Righteous Branch.
- The Light in the Darkness.
- Immanuel, God with us.
When we celebrate Advent, we celebrate not only that Jesus came once, but that He is coming again.
5 Practical Ways to Live Out Hope
Studying the story of hope across Scripture is inspiring; however, Advent invites us to do more than appreciate the history. It invites us to participate in the story of hope ourselves.
Here are some practical ways to live out this study during Advent:
1. Embrace holy waiting: waiting is not a passive posture; it’s a spiritual discipline. Your waiting isn’t wasted time. Instead of fighting the waiting seasons of your life, Advent invites you to ask:
- What is God forming in me as I wait?
- How can I trust Him more deeply?
- What does it look like to hope “like a watchman”?
2. Anchor your hope in Christ, not circumstances: our hope is secure because its source (the Lord) is secure. Circumstances will shift. Emotions will fluctuate. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Hope that leans on Him can’t collapse. Each day this week, choose one truth about Christ to hold onto (let these truths reshape your outlook):
- Jesus is faith.
- Jesus is King.
- Jesus is with me.
- Jesus keeps His promises.
- Jesus is coming again.
3. Look for God in the ordinary: God fulfilled enormous promises through very ordinary people, like Abraham, Judah, David, Mary, and Joseph. God still works through ordinary lives—yours and mine included. Hope arrives in unexpected ways. Ask God:
- Where are You moving in my everyday life?
- How are You shaping my story into something that blesses others?
4. Pray for a renewed sense of expectation: we live in a world that dulls the soul with distractions, disappointments, and discouragements that drain our sense of anticipation. Advent is a time to reawaken spiritual expectation. As you pray through Advent, pray for:
- Softened spiritual sensitivity.
- Renewed joy in Scripture.
- Fresh awareness of Christ’s presence.
- A heart ready for His coming.
5. Share hope with someone who needs it: Advent hope is not meant to be hoarded. It’s meant to be shared. When you share hope, you reflect the heart of Christ, who is Hope Himself. Consider:
- Sending a message of encouragement.
- Praying with someone who is struggling.
- Writing a card with a Scripture verse.
- Sharing what God is teaching you.
- Giving quietly and generously to someone in need.
A Final Word of Encouragement
As we go through Advent, let this truth settle deep into your heart: Hope is not something you have to create. Hope is Someone you get to trust.
From the dawn of creation to the stable in Bethlehem, from the prophets’ promises to the empty, God has shown Himself faithful. And He will continue to be faithful in your life today.
Whatever you’re waiting for: healing, guidance, peace, restoration, remember the story you belong to. Remember the God who speaks hope into the darkness, who keeps His promises across generations, and who sent His Son exactly at the right time.
This Advent, may Hope Himself, who is our Lord Jesus, draw near to you.
Come, Lord Jesus!
Advent Study Guide Week 1: The Promise Foreshadowed
Advent Study Guide: Week 1: The Promise Foreshadowed
Advent Study Guide – Week 1: The Promise Foreshadowed |
Daily Readings & Reflections (Printable + Digital PDF).
Begin your Advent season with a rich, Scripture-soaked
journey that traces the very first whispers of the coming Messiah from Genesis
to the prophets.
Week 1 – “The Promise Foreshadowed” – is a beautiful 21-page
printable & digital study guide designed to deepen your wonder as you
prepare your heart for Christmas. Perfect for personal use, small groups, or
families who want something more meaningful than the usual holiday rush.
Each day, it walks you step-by-step through a pivotal Old
Testament promise, showing how the entire Bible has been one long Advent
countdown to the birth of Jesus.
Every daily entry includes:
- Key
Scripture & Theme
- Clear,
heartfelt explanation written in warm, accessible language
- “Why
This Matters for Advent” section that connects the Old Testament promise
straight to the manger
- A
short, powerful takeaway message to carry with you all day
Plus:
- Week 1
Habit Tracker (Bible reading, prayer, journaling, worship)
- 3
dedicated note-taking pages
- Encouraging
closing reflection
Designed to pair perfectly with my FREE weekly Advent
devotionals here, on Substack!
Print it out and place it in your Bible, use it digitally in
GoodNotes/Notability/Xodo, or simply read on your device—whatever fits your
life.
Instant PDF download | Personal use only
Start the Advent season seeing Christmas the way the
patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and angels saw it: as the staggering,
indescribable fulfillment of God’s ancient, unbreakable promise.
Come trace the scarlet thread of hope from Eden to
Bethlehem—your heart will never read the Christmas story the same way again.
God bless,
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