“And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
In Genesis chapters 1-3, the Gospel of Jesus Christ—how humanity is to receive salvation—has been revealed in so many ways. God’s power and presence and patience have been seen in creation and formation and revelation. And as is true with the whole of Scripture, this same Gospel of Jesus keeps on coming.
And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife… One of the key tenets of the Good News in the Bible is that God does something for humanity. Here, God does something for humanity. He makes on their behalf.
Garments of skins… On the point of humanity’s disobedience, God’s word was sure: you shall surely die (Genesis 2:17). This point is not invalidated when God postpones the judgment. What is now seen alongside God’s perfect justice is the way of justification—sacrifice. God sacrifices on humanity’s behalf.
And clothed them… God makes something for humanity. He is active. God sacrifices for humanity. He is revealing something. Now God clothes humanity. He is providing something. Where shame alone existed, God provides a way forward (out of the shame).
God’s active movement towards humanity is the beginning of the Gospel—for God so loved the world. This active movement is seen in the sending of one who can fulfill that which Adam could not (obedience) as well as secure salvation through that fulfillment (sacrifice)—that he gave his only son. This movement and content allows for a provision of need—that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Though explicitly stated when the fullness of time had arrived (Galatians 4:4), we see the exact same revelation implicitly stated from the beginning of humanity’s need in Genesis 3:21. God’s love for his people is not new but old, and his desire is that his people would see it over and over when they come to his Word.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.”