You’ve heard the phrase clothed and in his right mind. It means sane and dressed appropriately. We’re going through Genesis and picking out “first mentions” of various words. Today, we’re looking at the first mention of the word clothed, which we find to be instructional. The meaning we dissect from a first mention often points to a doctrine or picture that God wants us to see throughout scripture.
Adam and Eve had just sinned. They lost their light covering. Now they were naked and ashamed. It was the first visible manifestation of the result of the original sin of mankind. Here is the first mention:
Let’s meditate on this by asking some simple questions that this verse answers:
- Did God instantly obliterate Adam and Eve for sinning? No.
- How did God handle this sin and their obvious angst over feeling naked? He made them clothes.
- What were the clothes made of? Skins.
- Don’t skins come from animals that have to die first in order to get their skins? Yes, and perhaps it was a lamb. Because to cover our spiritual nakedness, didn’t the lamb of God have to die?
- How did Adam and Eve put these clothes on? God did it for them. He dressed them. They didn’t have to do anything. (Read the verse again.)
The big picture that emerges from the answers to these simple questions is that God deals with sinful people mercifully. He knows we are undone with our guilt and shame. He killed a lamb (Jesus) to clothe us in His way. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). Additionally, He’s the one who clothes us. We don’t clothe ourselves. You could say that the clothes God dressed Adam and Eve with were gracious gifts. (Read Ephesians 2:8-9)
So, in the first mention of “clothing,” God clothes man (and woman). They don’t clothe themselves. Is this reminiscent of what God does throughout Scripture? See if these verses don’t shine a little brighter now that God has established his specialty to clothe people.
- Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Luke 12:27-28)
- I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)
- When Christ returns, those He has clothed with the garments of salvation are coming with Him. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)
The takeaway today is that God loves to clothe undeserving people—all the way from Adam and Eve clear to we the saints whom He clothes and brings back with Him at His second coming. We will mount up to help Him conquer the insurgents leading to Jesus Christ reigning as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We will be the ultimate specimens of clothed and in our right minds!
Jody
Comments