Day 30: Genesis 3:20-21
Devotional
READ GENESIS 3:20-21
Has anyone ever shown you grace when you knew you deserved far worse? I'll never forget the soccer game as a teenager when I got into a fistfight, earned a red card, and was ejected. The worst part was that my dad—a pastor—was my coach. My actions didn't just reflect poorly on me; they reflected on him. He could’ve gotten angry and yelled to show his displeasure. But instead, he showed grace. No doubt, I was benched for a while—but I deserved far worse.
That’s exactly what we see in our passage today. After we read about the curse of sin, Adam immediately renames his wife Eve, which means life. This seems odd, since death had just been introduced in the preceding verse. But Adam’s hope was in God’s gracious promise of life in Genesis 3:15, that the curse would be reversed through one of their descendants. In faith, He called his wife Eve, mother of all the living.
And then something even better happens. God provides clothing for Adam and Eve! Not long before (vv. 7-11), they had become aware of their nakedness and were ashamed. Even fig leaves couldn’t cover their shame, so they hid from God. While any reasonable sense of justice might deem they be left in that state, in God’s kindness and grace, He made garments to cover their shame. They didn’t deserve this. They brought the shame on themselves, yet God showed grace.
A life had to be taken for that animal skin to be made into clothing. In the same way, God covers our shame through the death of His own Son—His life in place of ours. Romans 3:24-25 says that Jesus is the propitiation, the sacrificial atonement that satisfied God’s justice and covered over our sins. It cost the blood of God’s own Son.
It's easy to take for granted the sacrifice God made to cover over our sin. We deserve far worse, but He is so gracious. Even when we experience the consequences of sin in our lives, we trust His promise of life and relish in His grace toward us.
Has anyone ever shown you grace when you knew you deserved far worse? I'll never forget the soccer game as a teenager when I got into a fistfight, earned a red card, and was ejected. The worst part was that my dad—a pastor—was my coach. My actions didn't just reflect poorly on me; they reflected on him. He could’ve gotten angry and yelled to show his displeasure. But instead, he showed grace. No doubt, I was benched for a while—but I deserved far worse.
That’s exactly what we see in our passage today. After we read about the curse of sin, Adam immediately renames his wife Eve, which means life. This seems odd, since death had just been introduced in the preceding verse. But Adam’s hope was in God’s gracious promise of life in Genesis 3:15, that the curse would be reversed through one of their descendants. In faith, He called his wife Eve, mother of all the living.
And then something even better happens. God provides clothing for Adam and Eve! Not long before (vv. 7-11), they had become aware of their nakedness and were ashamed. Even fig leaves couldn’t cover their shame, so they hid from God. While any reasonable sense of justice might deem they be left in that state, in God’s kindness and grace, He made garments to cover their shame. They didn’t deserve this. They brought the shame on themselves, yet God showed grace.
A life had to be taken for that animal skin to be made into clothing. In the same way, God covers our shame through the death of His own Son—His life in place of ours. Romans 3:24-25 says that Jesus is the propitiation, the sacrificial atonement that satisfied God’s justice and covered over our sins. It cost the blood of God’s own Son.
It's easy to take for granted the sacrifice God made to cover over our sin. We deserve far worse, but He is so gracious. Even when we experience the consequences of sin in our lives, we trust His promise of life and relish in His grace toward us.
Personal Reflection
- Spend a few minutes thanking God for covering over your sin and shame through the blood of Christ.
- How else have you seen God’s grace and kindness in your own life? Spend a few minutes thanking Him.
Posted in The Beginning Devotionals
2 Comments
Great reminder of God’s grace and mercy. He covers my sense of shame with love and compassion. He pays for my sin. Thanks for the challenge to think on His grace.
Thank you for the reminder that God made the garments for Adam and Eve. That jumped out at me, and I’ve been a Christian for over 50 years! What a sweet, tender, and merciful act of love in the midst of great disappointment! And thank you for the reminder of what Jesus did for us at the cross. This is very touching and comforting!