Genesis 3:21–24
‘The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.’ (v21)
On discovering their nakedness, Adam and Eve immediately attempted to cover a shame they’d never known. Knowledge of good can only exist with a knowledge of its counterpart, evil. They fashioned fig leaves into clothing, a sign of lost innocence. Figs symbolise life, prosperity, peace and righteousness throughout Scripture (Mic. 4:4), and here indicate our basic human instinct for this fourfold blessing.
God then chooses to clothe them himself, in recognition of fallen humanity’s need for God’s provision. Our own attempts at self-sufficiency fail to match God’s provision. Like the prodigal son, we find that despite our best intentions, without God’s provision our plans lead us to bankruptcy. Yet, what a joy, the wandering son remembers his father and returns. To his great surprise, his father is daily scanning the horizon in anticipation of his son’s return (Luke 15:20).
Hence, the robe and ring are ready and waiting, the calf fattened for the feast, and the vagrant’s ragged garments are replaced. Clothed by God before their exile, Adam and Eve are dressed in the promise of God’s future restoration and confirmation of Satan’s defeat in seeking the destruction of God’s created order. Today our need of clothing can act as a daily reminder of the forfeit of our original state with God and of the punishment for disobedience removed through Jesus who was stripped naked and died (Isa. 53:7) before being clothed in a glory initially unrecognisable to Mary at His resurrection (John 20:14–16).
Scripture to consider: Ps. 30:6–12; Isa. 61:7–11; Luke 15:11–32; Rev. 19:11–21.
An action to take: Every day we rise from sleep and dress, so make this a time to give thanks to God and allow Him to clothe you in all you need to serve Him for the day ahead.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, since I have been raised with Christ through faith, may I daily put on garments of salvation and serve You. Amen.’
Photo by Charlein Gracia on Unsplash
