Covered

And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 (ESV)

Nestled between the sin of Adam and Eve and their subsequent banishment from the Garden of Eden is a short verse that could easily be missed. Yet it contains such a powerful message: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”

Divine-initiated grace. God Himself, sewing garments. He didn’t provide Adam and Eve with instructions but took it upon Himself to provide a fit covering. Not made with fig leaves but skin. Although the passage doesn’t mention an animal sacrifice, it is safe to assume that an animal had to be killed, its blood spilled, so Adam and Eve’s nakedness could be covered.

In the same way, God’s grace covers us. The blood of Jesus covers the sin of all who put their faith in Him.

Isaiah 61:10 states, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness” (emphasis mine).

Psalm 32:1 says, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (emphasis mine).

Like Boaz, who placed his covering over Ruth and ultimately redeemed her (Ruth 3:9), God spreads His covering over us.

Not based on our merit, but because of His great love.

The lyrics to Steve Camp’s song, “He Covers Me,” express this so well:

“I know someday I will be free

The weight of sin shall be released

But for now, He covers me

And though the trials never end

I learn to take them as my friend

For each day He covers me.”

What a precious truth we can cling to, whenever we stumble or struggle:

God, Himself, covers me!