The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.  (Genesis 3:21)

This little verse might be one you just skip right over.  After all, it doesn’t sound like anything deep or profound.  We know that in their original, perfect state of being, Adam and Eve were naked, unashamed. It makes sense that when God sent them out of the garden into the world to work and strive for their livelihood, He made them clothes.  It seems a trivial detail, doesn’t it?

Here’s a lesson for us:  everything God tells us in His Word is significant.

When Adam and Eve sinned, their first response was to hide.  Genesis 2:7-8 tells us they suddenly knew they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves to cover themselves, and hid among the trees from the presence of God.  This is our natural response to realizing we have sinned.  Something within us makes us aware of our unworthiness before God: we are guilty.  You might call it your conscience, but I believe it is because we are created in the image of God for the purpose of worshipping our Creator, and we know when have broken His law (Romans 1:20; 2:14-15).

The way that Adam and Eve tried to cover their sins illustrates our inability to change our sinful state.  Fig leaves are temporary, fragile.  They would last for a little while, but soon they would wilt and tear, leaving them exposed once again.  Do you find it interesting that they tried to use what God had given them for beauty and provision to make up for their sins?  Think about that.

What was God’s answer to cover their guilt? 

He made them garments of skin.  Something had to die.  A sacrifice had to be made.  An innocent animal lost its life to provide a covering for their sinfulness.  Notice two things:

God made the garments.  He performed the sacrifice.

God clothed them.  He covered their sinfulness Himself.

God’s actions in the garden are a picture of what He would do on the cross thousands of years later.  The garments of skin are a promise, that one day, a baby would be born, sent from heaven to live a perfect life and become the ultimate sacrifice that would cover the sins of all mankind, forever.

As you look at that baby in the manger, consider why He came.  Remember the picture of our gracious and merciful Father, gently placing garments of skin around His beloved creation who had sinned against Him, as a promise of a better and final covering for our sins.

John 1:29 – The next day he [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

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This devotional was taken from Living In Light Of The Manger, a 40-day Advent journey to remind you of the real meaning of Christmas. It makes a great gift to share the gospel with someone you know.