God’s Covering
I was speaking at a service on Sunday afternoon and at one point, mentioned how God provided coverings for Adam and Eve. These are people who were once clothed in glory but as a result of their disobedience became naked and ashamed.
When one is naked, they’re unprotected, exposed, open and therefore more susceptible to danger; they can easily be infected and/or affected by anything and this can result in them being defenceless, powerless and ultimately a laughingstock.
And when Moses saw that the people [were] naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto [their] shame among their enemies: Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. Exodus 32:25-26
I want to you to understand that you are guaranteed power over the enemy and protection from his evil plans only when you leave the ways of this world and cling to God. You have to be on the Lord’s side. Amen? His weapons may form, but they won’t prosper.
The Scripture also records that Adam and Eve were ashamed. They must have been thinking about what they’d done and where it’d landed them. I could imagine them reminiscing on the grace they bountifully enjoyed, God’s favour upon their lives; their lost authority, their stripped special designer (superior to Joseph’s), and worse of all, facing eviction from their beautiful garden in the presence of the enemy, what a disgrace! But in his great mercy and love,
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21
If they lived to this day, you’d hear them say:
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 decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10
You that live today, what do you say? You ought to be grateful that the Lord hasn’t stopped covering you.
He has sent me] to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of [tears of] grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness. Isaiah 61:3a
You must learn to thank him for all those times he put a garment of praise on you to relieve you of the spirit of heaviness. I’m talking about those times you felt stripped of your strength, weighed down and ashamed. He covered you and he’s still covering you, here’s why:
They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, the Plantings of the LORD, so that he might display his glory. Isaiah 61:3b
God is not glorified when you’re naked and ashamed; come to him, come to Zion, come to the strong hold and be safe.