God Provides
Nothing in the Scriptures is by chance – we know this – and yet, it is still incredible to delve into these truths and continuously find more ways that God has provided His love and grace for us
I found another truth within this next verse we are going to study:
“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”
Genesis 3:21
There is a Hebrew combination of labash (to clothe) and kotnot (garments), which appear several times within Scripture, but the use of these together suggests something quite unexpected about God’s provision for Adam and Eve; something that we would never imagine for two people who have just disobeyed God’s explicit command. Yet, these two words together are no accident, and therefore, Genesis 3:21 implies a great deal about the status and role of human beings – and about what isn’t lost; as a result sin
This verse has been spoken of as God’s actions as a sign of the coming sacrifice of Jesus for forgiveness. This is because God slayed an animal to cover Adam and Eve. By God doing this, it is the first sacrificial death (or a life was needed to be substituted in order to restore the disobedience within humanity). Therefore, this view shows us that the garments are reminders of sin and the requirement of death accompanying sin
Priests
Yet, when we look a bit deeper, we find something else. We see the combination of labash and kotnot in Leviticus 8:7, Leviticus 8:13 and Numbers 20:28. However, all of these verses describe God’s provision of the holy garments for Aaron and his sons
In other words, when these words are used together, it is solely for those whom God dresses as priests. In Genesis 3:21, God didn’t just clothe Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness. He installed them both as the world’s first priests
How incredible is it that labash and kotnot show that the role of Adam and Eve as priests was not erased by the fall. In fact, the only thing that changes is the clothing. Once, they were clothed in light and glory. Now they are clothed in the symbol of redemption – just as we are clothed in the blood of our Redeemer. But their function as priests to God isn’t abandoned as a result of their disobedience
Our Role
It’s time to see ourselves as God does because where we see condemnation and death, God sees grace and life. This brings even more clarity to the Scripture below:
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9
When God covers us in Jesus blood (or clothes us), it redeems us and shows that God has chosen us – like Adam and Eve – to be royal priests for Him
But, today, let’s remember what the Priest’s role was in the Old Testament because they interceded on behalf of those not worthy enough to be in God’s presence. Therefore, just like the Scripture in 1 Peter, if we have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus, it’s time for us to intercede for others and show them the goodness and the grace of God
Categories: Genesis
