Be Covered

In the Genesis record, Adam and Eve ate fruit from the forbidden tree. Their eyes were immediately opened to the fact that they are naked. So, they made aprons of fig leaves and hid behind the trees.

Why did they feel the need to make aprons, the need to cover up their offense? Adam answered that question when he said to God, “I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

The tree was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They wanted the good. Eve saw that the fruit was pleasant to the eyes and held the potential to make her wise, but they had not considered the evil. They hadn’t thought through the consequences.

So often, like our first parents, we focus on the immediate pleasure and give little thought to the consequences of our disobedience to God’s Word. We can choose our sin, but we cannot choose the consequences. Consequences that so often leave us fearful, ashamed, and wanting to hide.

God saw the inadequacy of man’s attempt to deal with sin. They needed a better covering. So, into the perfect environment, death entered. God covered them with animal skins.   

Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” Only the blood of the innocent can cover the sin of the guilty. Hebrews 9:26 tells us Jesus Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

I encourage you today to step out from behind the trees, to set aside your fig-leaf apron. Confess your rejection of God’s loving authority and allow Him to wrap you in His forgiveness. Let Him be the shield you hide behind.

Isaiah 61:10 - I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation. He has covered me with a robe of righteousness.