One might well wonder what was behind the fig leaves which Adam and Eve adopted as coverings. They seemed to defeat their intention by drawing attention to themselves. Was each concerned to cover the other or themselves? Later they hid themselves from the Divine Presence, again trying to escape guilty consciences. It is difficult to reason from our present experience and observation since pre-adolescence ‘innocence’ is not even the same state as Adam and Eve’s before they sinned. Only the very, very youngest children can run around in their natural state without an awareness that others are embarrassed.
It would be an interesting thing if Adam and Eve were created at what we would call an immediately pre-adolescent age, and one of the effects of eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the ushering in of adolescence. Even today it is noticeable that up to that stage girls are far in advance of boys physically and mentally, and it was Eve who took the initiative in investigating forbidden things. What a happy state – and glorious climate – not to be entrammelled with clothing or embarrassed with inconvenient ideas!
If Adam and Eve had progressed towards physical, mental and spiritual maturity in God’s way, resisting experimentation, one may wonder whether clothes would have ever been considered necessary. One may wonder if angels wear clothes only when they manifest themselves to sinners’ view, out of consideration for the sinners’ state of mind.
But some may consider that an unprofitable direction, so we will pursue information more accessible.
The inferred disapproval of the fig leaves is apparent from the provision of “coats of skeins” (Gen. 3:21). As there do not seem to have been climatic changes at this stage the clothes could not have been as protection from the weather, nor would they necessarily have been any more efficient than the fig leaves. The latter would have the advantage of being cooler, lighter, more easily obtained and more convenient in most respects.
But the coats of skins (and, incidentally, we are not told whether they wore different designs) had one vital importance. Being obtainable only through the death of a living creature they would be a constant reminder to the wearers that they lived before God at the cost of the death of that living creature. Not as a substitute, for they would eventually die themselves – their very nature made it inevitable; but as their representative.
In the death of the animals they saw enacted in a parable the drama of their own deserts and eventual end. The blood of bulls and of goats could not take away sins , and in this statement “blood” is the synonym for “life” which was “given” by the animal in its work producing the covering, and in its death providing it for them.
A high price paid by another to ease their embarrassment and teach them that only death could cover their sin – their death would only end their ability to sin, but identifying themselves in the death of a representative gave them opportunity to overcome their desire and intention to sin.
So in a human society beset with taboos, inhibitions, complexes and sick minds, and in these northern cold climes, we continue to wear clothes in ignorance of their true purpose. Of course, unless we are rich and unconcerned about conservationism, we seldom wear animal skins, so our clothes do not serve their original purpose. In fact most of our clothes may be more related to man-made fig leaf material.
The previous comment about whether any difference was made between Adam’s coat and Eve’s was not facetious; it is associated with a further point: what preparation of the coats of skins was made? slaughter, skinning, cleaning? Yes, obviously; cutting off of various extremities – heads, legs tails etc., possibly, else the wearing would be very difficult and the appearance grotesque. The wearing of whole animal skins may have been adopted later to frighten others, and may have been a perversion of this act of God in the beginning; we cannot think that having made them in His own image He desired them to look like animals.
Even so, the wearing of these skins would be a constant reminder of three things:
(a) their present state, which required clothes, in contrast with their previous one which didn’t;
(b) they could not cover their own sins; only God could do that, and then only if they willingly co-operated; and
(c) the death of a representative was required.
This (a) could produce guilt complexes, inhibitions and frustrations and (b) could produce either depressions, melancholia or rebellions, whilst (c) might be a revolting idea if not correctly understood. So men reject God’s plan of salvation. The wearing would be a constant reminder of their need, and God’s benevolent provision. But for a variety of reasons the wearing of skins was not continued; these were succeeded by wool, cotton, silk, nylon, plastics, etc. Fashion replaced utility, outward show replaced inward awareness. What was intended as a steppingstone to understanding became an obstacle to spiritual growth.
For the natural man clothes only serve to protect from the particular climate and to hide or display the body. Of these three points Adam and Eve were motivated by the second, most of us by the first and the second, and some by the first and the third. Yet none of these are in Gen.3:21. Was that which was “very good” when it was created in the image of God now visually ugly, abhorrent, distasteful, shocking? Would covering them prevent them being known of, or thought about?
This is not the right way of considering the importance of clothes to the man or woman interested in maturing spiritually. Coats of skins were to remind them continually that their sins needed covering. If when we think of clothes (our own or others) we allow our minds to think upon this, we shall be reminded of our own need of salvation and of God’s merciful provision. Our minds will think, we cannot prevent thoughts (“We can’t stop the birds flying round our heads, but we can stop them nesting on our hair” – ancient proverb).
We have to direct our thoughts. Only to the young and inexperienced are there any secrets hidden by clothes; the mature, controlled, balanced mind is not affected by what is seen or hidden. The immature Victorians wrapped up table legs in long woollen stockings and talked of a persons’ ‘nether limbs’, and some campaigned for animals to wear clothes lest they offend the eyes of men and women. By so many of our current attitudes and postures we indicate that we have not been made wise unto salvation by the Word, but only knowledgeable unto argument.
The study and the purpose of clothing in Scripture is fascinating; keep a slip of paper in your Bible and note references down as you read in 1973. Why did people express emotion by tearing their clothes (Reuben, Gen.37:29; Caiaphas, Matt.26:65; Paul, Acts 14:14; amongst many others – were they simply acting ‘in fashion’?) – it seems a very useless, wasteful habit, almost as futile as tearing out handfuls of beard as some did. We shall find those condemned who wore long clothing (Mark 12:38) and some who were to be clothed with shame (Psa.35:26). What is significant about “sackcloth” and why was it often associated with “ashes” (Esther 4:3) when one is in a desperate situation?
Look in Zeph.1:4-10 for the Old Testament counterpart of the Lord’s parable of the Wedding Garment in Matt.22. How many points are in both quotations? They are not both in the same order, but you’ll find many interesting parallels. Notice too, that rich wardrobe of lasting garments hidden in the various parts of Scripture.
Joseph’s priestly garment of many pieces of animal skins which provoked the jealousy of his brethren because it gave him pre-eminence in the family (Gen 37:3); the holy garments for glory and for beauty that the Priest’s work might have an added dignity and meaning (Ex.28:41) and which led Solomon to pray that God’s priests should be clothed with salvation (2 Chron.6:41).
God’s servants are to be clothed in righteousness, praise, strength, honour, humility, we shall also learn; so, as we dress ourselves each day, we may pray that these also shall fit us well. Specialist clothing also is provided in the seven items of the whole armour of God in Eph.6:11-18 – truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, power and communication.
Make a list of those who appeared to Daniel and Ezekiel “clothed in linen” and associate them with those who appear in the New Testament in “shining garments”, in “a long white garment” and in “white apparel”.
We may wonder why garments had not to be made with different materials (Deut.22:11) – and what of our wool and terylene suits,brethren? We shall be surprised to find rough-clad, long haired figures doing the Lord’s work valiantly, and others in regulation sheep’s clothing or purple and fine linen unmasked as hypocrites.
We shall be counselled to buy the white raiment offered by God in Laodicea (where they manufactured garments); we shall stand in admiration at the four and twenty elders sitting round the Throne, crowned with gold and wearing white raiments; the style is attractive, especially if it has the same type of golden girdle as that worn by the one like the Son of Man. White seems to be the colour of the livery of Heaven, for we shall meet seven angels in pure white linen with the same golden girdles. Even Heaven’s armed forces wear a white uniform – and it’s clean, too, we are told!
The picture of the Bride of the Heavenly Bridegroom is of One “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white” – (the margin substitutes ‘bright’) to represent the Wedding garment of imputed righteousness in place of the filthy rags in which we appear naturally in the sight of God.
I am being more and more impressed, every day, as I look around, that the very things which are stumbling blocks to many can be miraculously transformed to stepping stones. Clothes can be a dangerous subject (“I’ve NOTHING to go out in” says the wife with a wardrobe of last year’s Paris models) about which brethren get hot under the collar. Let the Word of God educate our minds to see the lessons that clothes can show us.
The styles and the fashions come and go – only one fits exactly – that provided free from the Divine Designer – white linen, pure and clean. In the sight of God may we have gladly accepted that, joyfully wear it day in and day out, to show our awareness of need and our gratitude for our Father’s beneficent provision.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay