NorthStar Community Daily Devotional

June 7 - Godly intentions

Scripture focus: God made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. God said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never-this cannot happen!" So God expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3:21-24 (The Message)

Previous verses give us a picture of a parent handing out consequences. Depending on your trust level, you might see this as discipline or punishment. But it's hard for even the most distrusting reader to not have their heart grow a size or two with today's scripture focus.

It is as we imagine God taking the time to make leather clothing for Adam and his wife that we see how much God loves us. Those fig leaves were completely ineffectual at managing, covering, and hiding their sin and shame. God could have left them scratching their loins, wondering if they did or did not choose a poisonous leaf, exposed in spite of their best fig leaf picking. God could have thought, "Well, a fine mess they've made of things! Serves them right to have to walk around worrying about what is and what is not showing. Let's just see how they like fig leaf apparel! Then God could have walked off in a huff, thinking, "I'll show them. They didn't love and trust me, so I'll give them a taste of their own medicine. I'll leave them to their own devices. Let them figure out how to manage their shame."

But God didn't. Instead, and even though Adam and his wife had a need for clothing as a direct result of growing forgetful of their loving relationship with God, God still provided for them in their time of need.

God protects us - most often from ourselves.

This is his driving motivation - to love and protect his children.

We can trust God with who we really are - even our secret sins and shameful thoughts.

Recommended reading: Hosea 7-10

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