Digging Deeper: Mercy and Forgiveness

Amy Seiffert, in her Bible Minute with Amy daily reel, recently talked about how laundry is her least favorite chore. Genesis says Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed—until they ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:25). Then they immediately covered themselves with fig leaves—the first laundry! Amy concludes that if you don’t like doing laundry, remember it’s because of the Fall, the original sin in the Garden of Eden. Good point!

Genesis 3:7 says, “At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” The fig leaves provided a temporary solution for their shame. However, not only did they hide their bodies from each other—Scripture goes on to say they also hid from God among the trees. When God returned to the garden, Adam said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid” (Genesis 3:9–10).

God then asked him directly if they had eaten from the tree He commanded them not to eat from. That’s when the “blame game” begins, and God addresses the consequences of their sin. We’ll come back to that portion of Genesis 3 tomorrow.

Today, our focus is on Genesis 3:21: “And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.” Ironically, Adam and Eve knew enough to try and cover their sin. They used fig leaves—a temporary, short-term solution. Thankfully, God is merciful and knows that sin requires death—a shedding of blood—to be covered.

Genesis 3:21 is the first time we see a sacrifice for sin in Scripture. Animals die to provide covering and restoration for Adam and Eve. This foreshadows what we just celebrated at Easter: Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected to restore humankind to Himself.

Today, take time to consider whether there is sin in your life that you’re trying to hide from God. Confess it to Him in prayer, and ask for the strength to repent and fully accept His mercy and forgiveness.