IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE WORLD OUT OF NOTHING!

Genesis 2:1  Then  the heavens and earth were finished with everything people needed.  And God rested on the last day of that week.

 Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  God as a loving Father gave them “time out” .  Adam and Eve knew they had disobeyed and were very sorry.  God forgave them and gave them clothing to cover their bodies.

 

 

 

 

 

Children’s bible stories.   We have all read them as children. Hopefully, we have read them to our children and grandchildren.  What a blessing it is to see them enjoy God’s story as we pass our faith along.

God’s Word promises a blessing each time we read and study it.  As children it is simple and easy to understand but as adults we are called to go deeper in His Word.  The Bible is amazing!  As you dig deeper you begin to see more of the “hidden treasures” (Proverb 2:4)NASB

In the next few weeks, we will dig around in God’s stories.  Specifically I want us to look at the “coverings of God”.

Genesis 1:1-3:24

The story of creation is one of the first stories children hear. God created the world. God made Adam and Eve and placed them in a garden.  Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command.  Now here is where the “treasure” begins to unfold.  The moment Adam and Eve disobeyed their eyes were opened and they saw they were naked.  They had always been naked and innocent but now their innocence was gone!  Digging deeper fact#1. Innocence is taken away when we are disobedient to God’s commands.  His commands are always for our good and our protection.

O.K. so they are naked…. hmm. SO THEY SEW FIG LEAVES TOGETHER FOR COVERING THEMSELVES. (I see you Von, rolling your eyes and laughing)  WHAT!!!  Have you ever picked any figs?  Do you remember those leaves?  They are sticky, prickly and they sting.  I can’t imagine that would be very comfortable to run around in all the time.   Digging deeper fact #2.  When we try to cover our disobedience in our own way, it should make us very uncomfortable!   Our attempts in the flesh seldom works for very long.

Now, in the cool of the evening when God came by for their afternoon walk, they hid.  Digging deeper fact #3.  You cannot hide from God!  He’s everywhere, knows everything and seeks you out!!!

Father God calls their hand.  What have you done?  Did you eat of the fruit of the tree of which I told you not to eat?  Let the blame game begin! Digging fact #4.  Blaming others doesn’t work with God.  He holds each of us accountable for our actions.

The consequences of disobedience are announced.  Adam and Eve have to leave the garden.  Eve will have pain in childbirth and Adam will have to work the soil.  Digging deeper fact #5. There is loss when we disobey.  We have free will/ free choice to act but we do not get to choose the consequences of our actions.

Obviously Adam and Eve repent of their actions and the relationship is restored. Here is the real meat of this story.  We know they repented because they are forgiven by God.  We know they are forgiven because “the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21 (NAS)

The Coverings of God.  Hebrews 9:22b “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” (NAS) An animal had to be sacrificed to make the coverings for Adam and Eve.   To make garments of skin (probably a lamb), the lamb had to die.  For our sins to be forgiven, under the new covenant they have to be covered with Jesus blood.

The entire Bible is a revelation of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.  Each story, each passage, each parable and every lesson draws us in and shows a deeper revelation of God’s love for His people.

As children we begin with the simple thoughts and stories.  Those provide foundations for building a relationship of trust with our Father.  As we get older we need to build on that foundation.  Jesus told the Pharisee that if you have seen me you have seen the Father because the Father and I are one.  Jesus desires to show us the deep treasures.  Remember Proverbs 2:3 “Search for them (commands or words of wisdom) as you would for silver, seek them like hidden treasures.”

Today’s truth:  The first covering for the people of God was the skin of an animal (lamb) which is a picture or foreshadowing of His plan of redemption of mankind.

For the next “cover”,  we will look at the story of Noah and the ark.

Treadin on

Freda