They say clothes make the man. Well, if that is true, then the very first set of clothes man had is the best! It is a foreshadowing of CHRIST JESUS and HIS sacrifice on the cross. Let’s go back to the beginning and see where this first set of clothes originated from.
21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)
Here we are in the garden of Eden, immediately following the judgments of GOD on the serpent, Eve, and Adam. But, in order, for us to get a good understanding of what the above verse says, let’s travel a bit further back and do a quick recap.
GOD creates. GOD, creates the light, darkness, day, night, stars, earth, seas, dry land, sea creatures, birds, land animals, vegetation and man. GOD puts Adam in charge of the garden and over everything on the earth. This Adam is GOD’S representative on earth. You have to get that! Adam is created in GOD’S image. This same Adam is the only creation created in GOD’S image. GOD gives Adam authority to name all the animals on the earth. To use a modern euphemism, “Adam was the man”! GOD gave Adam only one negative command – do not eat from the tree of good and evil or you will die. Afterward, when GOD saw Adam was still without a suitable helper, GOD caused Adam to go into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and fashioned Eve from it. A little later on we have this interaction between the serpent and the woman (Eve was actually named after the judgement):
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;
3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” (Genesis 3:1–3).
Did you notice the underlined portion? Hopefully, the first question which comes to your mind is, “where did she get this information”? GOD never said they could not touch the tree. Adam and Eve could have slept in the tree, made swings, carved their initials in the tree, and I guess you could have even argued, cutting the tree down. What is implied is Adam told her not to touch it. Because Adam cared so much for Eve and did not want her to die, he made a rule that went beyond what GOD had said. Which, incidentally, would be the very opening that would lead to Eve being deceived! Just a side note: never add to or take away from GOD’S Word!
What happens next is an investigation and then judgement pronounced. What is interesting to me is the order of the investigation and then the order of judgement. The first party GOD asks a question of is Adam. Adam’s reply was to blame GOD for his sin (the woman you gave me…). What Adam said to GOD was “Had you not given me the woman I would never have eaten, so basically its YOUR fault, GOD. GOD does not reply to Adam, but addresses Eve and she blames the serpent for deceiving her. Because Adam was GOD’S representative GOD went directly to Adam first to inquire. Adam had the primary responsibility, above all other things, to represent GOD correctly and obey HIM perfectly. I don’t know if you have ever asked the question, “why did GOD not ask the serpent any questions?” But, for me, it seems a bit remarkable that GOD did not ask why of the serpent. GOD now proceeds to the judgement phase and immediate goes in reverse order. The serpent is punished first, then Eve, and finally Adam. Then, the truly unexpected happens. GOD, instead of instructing Adam how to provide clothing for Eve and himself, makes garments of animal skin to clothe Adam and Eve. GOD takes the initiative – the first step in redemption. Just like the judgement of the serpent, when GOD declares the crushing blow to him (serpent) will come from the seed of woman – GOD takes the initiative in declaring the end from the beginning. Now, we don’t just hear of what GOD will do – we see. GOD demonstrates it will take the shedding of blood, death of the innocent, to make atonement for the guilty. GOD HIMSELF will choose and make the sacrifice. It will be GOD who will clothe a sinner with the garments which will make them acceptable before HIM. **Another brief side thought. I know it does not specifically say it, but do you think the animal that GOD sacrificed was a lamb?** This first set of clothes GOD provided for Adam and Eve was a foreshadowing of GOD sacrificing HIS own SON, JESUS, so that we would be clothed in the righteousness of CHRIST. GOD, takes an animal, pours out its life’s blood, skins it and makes garments and clothes the rebellious. This would be the same as when the FATHER had HIS SON JESUS go before Pilot and then condemned to death. The predetermined plan of GOD to have HIS SON JESUS die on the cross for the sins of HIS creation man. GOD, instead of leaving us naked, helpless and doomed, made a way where there was none to have us reconciled to HIMSELF! Blessed be the LORD JESUS CHRIST and glory to HIS holy name!
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 wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:27)
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.
4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”(Zechariah 3:3–4)
Shane Sands is the founder and president of United In Christ Jesus, a gospel evangelism missions ministry which began in 2010. Shane is husband to Holly, his godly wife (he defiantly married up). They both live in South Carolina at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along with their ever idiotic cat, Mister Bojangles. Shane has been blessed to travel to numerous countries and states, along with his wife, to preach the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.