Skin

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

Adam and Eve (Kimt)

What was Original Sin and why was it so bad?

When Adam and Eve ate from the fruit of the tree of knowledge, they submitted to the temptation of the Evil One and through their pride they decided to try to gain the knowledge of God.  The serpent had convinced Eve that God was hiding true knowledge from her and this hiding of knowledge was in detriment to her and that the only way that she could prove herself as powerful as God was to gain His knowledge through the fruit of the tree.

This meant that Eve (and then Adam) ate from the fruit that was forbidden them out of pride because they believed that God’s Will was not enough for them, and they thought that they were more perfect and knew better than God!  This is why it is called the sin of disobedience and pride.

After they ate from the tree we are told, “the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Genesis 3:7).  What is actually meant by this is that Adam and Eve “matured” and understood lust for the first time.  Previously they were as children and could not understand how the body of the other could be used for their own merit or pleasure.  After eating from the tree, the two understood that there could be consequences and danger from being completely exposed to each other.  And as a result, their first action was to seek out fig leaves.  They had nothing else to seek out – and no time.  They had to rush and cover themselves with whatever was available.  And in this case, the leaves were the closest they could get.  The second thing they did was to hide…

They felt ashamed and wanted to hide that.

God came looking for them and He called them – not because He did not know where they were – but he asked this as a relational question, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9).  Here, Adam answered, “I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid.” (Genesis 3:9).

And God dealt with the sin – the two (and all of us) were exiled and the fall of humankind ensued.  BUT, God also dealt with the shame…  “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).

And this is significant.  God did not shame them further or mock their attempts to repair or hide the damage that they had done.  He did not do this even knowing that they had caused the suffering and death of God the Son on the Cross…  Instead, He made them better coverings so that they would be less vulnerable and ashamed.

And there was a cost to this.  Making garments out of skin meant some animal had to die in order for Adam and Eve to hide their shame.

And those animal skins were as nothing compared with the Body and Blood of Our Lord Christ – God Himself who died to cover our shame…

And I am thinking about those skins today, as I am reflecting on the Resurrection of Christ – for He suffered so much for my sake, to cover me with garments of skin.  And I remember that today – even as I rejoice at His resurrection!

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.