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Background music attribution: The O’Neill Brothers Group, The Holly & The Ivy from Joyous Christmas Carols on Piano
In these opening advent days, we observed our cultural holiday preparations. Now we’ll turn to the biblical narrative to consider what God has prepared. Because to see the provisions of God—His goodness, glory, and grace—will add a robust Hallalujah! to our celebration of His Son.
We’ll begin at the beginning, in Genesis. We’ll tour the magnificent preparations of God in the first advent coming of the Messiah. The best starting point in history is that of Creation.
And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:8-9 ESV).The garden God created and prepared as a dwelling place for His image-bearers was an amazing grace—because, more than the tree of life, His presence was there.
No sin was there. No hatred, no injustice, no brokenness, or death. And no shame to cover-over (Genesis 2:25).
But then Genesis 3:1 happened!
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say….’ (Genesis 3:1a ESV).And then...
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate (Genesis 3:6a ESV).The one command of God? Broken. Right along with the Father’s heart. Not to mention the shattering of their relationship.
And the need for their covering was realized. The covering of their nakedness, their sin, their guilt.
They tried to fashion a self-made garment of fig leaves (Genesis 3:7), but to no avail. And the human drive for autonomous works was born.
But no covering made by human hands could suffice. Covering up was not possible. Nor could they hide from God, try as they might.
God pronounced judgment upon the three rebels for their disobedience (Genesis 3:14-19). Then He did the unexpected.
And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them (Genesis 3:21 ESV).God’s provision was divinely (and personally) prepared. He clothed them in garments of His own making.
But death had entered God’s created order. The sacrificial death of that animal was required. By the blood of a sacrifice, the act of their rebellion was covered.
It was Jehovah-God who mercifully covered them with garments of His grace. He covered their nakedness. And, through the blood of the animal, He covered their sin. Because He alone can provide atonement for sin.
This one act—in the beginning—foreshadowed the lasting remedy God would ultimately provide in the Christ. Through the shedding of His sacrificial blood, atonement is made for the sins of those in Him.
God prepared and provided garments for Adam and Eve—coverings for both the physical and spiritual need born of their sin. But a far greater covering-of-perfection was coming.
And Christ Jesus, whom we celebrate and serve, has covered you in garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10). And love everlasting.
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