The Day God Made Clothes

By Connie S. Arnold

“And the Lord called unto Adam and said unto him, where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9 KJV)

We know the story of Satan’s temptation of the first couple God created and placed in an earthly paradise. Their sin of disobedience leeched out of  the soil of their garden home and lodged up into their hearts. Their nakedness was exposed and that of all mankind’s to this very day.

But when sin entered the world, God intervened.  “God produced coats of skin for the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, and clothed them when they were found naked in the garden after eating the forbidden fruit.” (Genesis 3:21)

If that day had started out in brilliant sunshine, there is no doubt the sun would hide behind the clouds. Pathetic fallacy is nature’s weeping with the woes of man. In the stillness, one might have heard the whole universe groan.

Because of cartoon depictions of primitive man’s first “suit”, our imagination has stopped working. Let’s think further for a minute: Everything that God created in Genesis is pronounced “good.” So, I doubt if He grabbed up the first animal that happened by, killed it, skinned it, and hastily stitched together a loincloth for Adam and a skimpy covering for Eve. Adam’s body had to be protected from the thorns that he would now encounter in his garden plot. Neither would Eve escape the need for protection from the elements.

He had to instruct Adam to become a tailor and Eve to become a seamstress. All future generations would need garments. As He worked His patterns for their wardrobe, His countenance may have become darkened and tears may have fallen on His work. His mind’s eye could be seeing what this meant for the future: Adam’s offspring’s future disobedience requiring untold animal sacrifices for the temporary forgiveness of sins, culminating in His own death on the cross to atone for all Mankind.

It’s not unlike when He mourned for the rebellious people of Jerusalem. As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:41-42 NRSV).

Blind sinners groping in the darkness for a way out.

Until the day when we travel beyond the reach of Satan’s temptations still emanating from the Garden of Eden, Jesus has prepared a Way. “We need, therefore, to put on the robe of righteousness, holiness, purity and humility, so that we will not be found spiritually naked in God’s sight.” When we confess and accept that Jesus gave Himself for us, He clothes us in His righteousness. Let’s not be tempted to go to the discard pile and pull out a favorite garment from the past.

Songwriter, Edward Mote, penned these words:

When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His Righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

CSA_________