When Adam and Eve disobeyed God they instantly felt naked, ashamed, and exposed, so they tried to cover themselves. Notice they sewed leaves together. Later, when they have a conversation with God, it was very interesting to me that God made them coverings from animal skins. Adam and Eve wore the first furs.
What does this mean to me? When I sin, my first reaction is to “run for cover”. My own attempts at covering my guilt are feeble and fragile – like the clothes that Adam and Eve wove together. I don’t imagine that fig leaves are very sturdy. And certainly not fashionable!!
God sees their discomfort and vulnerability. Does He rip the leaves off of them and say, “No hiding here!!! What are these ridiculous costumes you are wearing?! I’m going to expose your sin and you will walk around in shame and misery.” (Think of a dunce hat, the cone of shame, or the scarlet letter.)
No. God acknowledges their sin. They have an honest chat about sin and it’s consequences, but then God does the most unexpected act of grace imaginable. God slaughters his beloved animals, removes their pelts, and sits down to the sewing machine to make them proper clothing. No more costumes. God makes them real, solid, long lasting clothing.
God’s kindness in this incidence is astounding to me!!!
What can we learn from this story from Genesis 3?
We don’t have to hide from God. We don’t have to try and cover over our sins out of guilt and shame. Our attempts are flimsy and temporary at best. God knows our sin. He sees it all. We are naked before Him. And yet… In His great love and mercy He does not make fun of us. He does not laugh at us. He does not disgrace and disrobe us.
In fact, He does the exact opposite. God actually slaughtered His Son, took his body, and sat down to the sewing machine to weave together royal robes for you and me. Priestly garments made of the most exquisite fabric imaginable.
So many times, we think God delights to expose our shame. We have been told by religious bullies that God gets a kick out of shaming people, judging them, calling them out on the carpet (whatever that old saying means?!).
We have long had mental images of a God who wants us completely nude and shivering in the corner with our faces buried in fear. As if God has a power trip when we mess up. Nothing could be farther from the truth!!
We have a God who comes to our hiding places, wraps His loving arms around us, and says, “Lift up your head, little one. There is no need to fear. I knew you would disappoint and disgrace yourself and that is why I sent my Son. Jesus died to be your sin covering. Now, get up. Let’s get you dressed. We’ve got a lot to do today. I don’t want you hiding in fear. My love, my perfect love, drives out fear. I love you, my child. I want to walk with you through this day and every day. And one day, I want to bring you home to be with me to live in my house. But for now, let’s get those rags off of you. Those are not clothes befitting my heirs. I want to wrap you in My great and permanent tunic. It has never been my intent to disrobe you and disgrace you. My heart longs to cover you and comfort you. Yes. My desire is to give you a complete wardrobe of my designer fashions.”
God’s plan from the very beginning, starting with the first man and woman, was to be in intimate connection with us. Knowing that our compulsion to sin would separate us from Him and send us into hiding, He wove together garments of grace. He comes to us with fresh mercy every morning. Fresh clothes. Laundered in His love.
God has not sent you to the corner!! He calls us out of the corner to join Him in open spaces and fields of grace.
Which do you choose today?
Your own sin covering (which is see through) or God’s sin covering (which will see you through). Today is the day to trade in your stank. Do it.
Kristi Smith Author
