Receiving a Covering from God

Genesis 3:21: "The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."


This early account found in Genesis, recalls the Lord's decree not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and Adam and Eve's subsequent rebellion against the Lord's edict. Adam and Eve desired to be like God, and they craved the forbidden fruit to satisfy their own wanton lusts, even though it was directly in defiance to their calling as faithful servants of the One True Lord (Genesis 3:5-6).


Even with God's responsive curse upon Adam and Eve for their rebellion, the Lord would provide garments of skin for them to hide the shame of their now recognized nakedness. To be sure, Adam and Eve knew that they were exposed before the Lord, and they had sewed fig leaves together to make garments; still, the Lord knew that man's efforts at a covering for sin would never suffice. Therefore, the Lord would take the skin of a sacrificed animal to clothe them and cover their shame. We can see even from this early historical account that God was using the imagery of "sacrifice" and "shed blood" to teach the fallen that He ultimately would provide a Sacrifice to cover their sins, if they would respond with faith, repentance, and obedience.


We specifically can see beautiful imagery of Jesus Christ in this story. He is our Passover Lamb that has been sacrificed for our sins (I Corinthians 5:7); and with His death, we have the opportunity of being clothed with Him in Righteousness (Romans 13:14). If we respond with faith and surrender to His offering of forgiveness through His sacrifice, we can be freed from the shame that comes from our wickedness. Our sins are pardoned, and we experience the blessedness of imputed righteousness. Our sins that once were red as scarlet, now have become white as snow (Isa. 1:18).


Maybe this is why there is so much emphasis upon the righteous receiving white robes to wear in eternity (see Revelation 7:9, 14). They are wearing robes that have been purified by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ! God desires to use the imagery of a "covering" to remind us that he has given to His bride (i.e. the Church) a garment that not only protects and identifies her as His betrothed, but it also proclaims to us that we never have to see the shame of our sin. God's redemption offers the gift of His righteous covering that forever will remind us that He has purified us from all of our sin. Take time today to thank the Lord for His "covering."