The Covering

Have you ever tried to sleep without a blanket? I am a lot of things but I am definitely not about that life. We all know these hot flashes in the night when we just want to throw away our covers but then the killer might come and kill us or a big beast could come and eat us up, right? As soon as we throw away our blanket we feel exposed, uncovered and vulnerable.

Did you know that I am the Aunty to the cutest, smartest, most beautiful and funniest baby ever? (Had to through that in there) My little niece refuses to sleep with her blanket. Even in the middle of her sleep, she would kick the covers off real quick if we dare to try her. So as I was watching her sleep (because she is just so sweet) I was wondering what is wrong with me? Why am I, as a 23 y/o person, afraid to sleep without a blanket?

I found out that as soon as we lose our innocence and become aware of good and evil, we desire a covering. (yeah, I just got biblical here)

Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden naked and unashamed and they didn't mind it until they ate from the tree of good and evil and all of a sudden they desired a covering. 

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Genesis 3:7

So they gathered fig leaves to cover themselves. Now, they knew good and well that these fig leaves weren't going to cover anything, but that's how we get when we try to hide something. We get desperate and make irrational and stupid decisions.

See, there is a big difference between the covering and the cover-up. What Adam and Eve were trying to do was to cover their sin and shame and guilt but God taught a really good lesson in that scene right here. He made a covering for them simply because they were His own. WOW! So there is nothing you need to do, nothing you need to hide or conceal from God. He will make a covering for His children. A mark that will show that He is our God and we are His Children.

To be covered means to be shielded, protected and kept. Being covered is like walking under a huge umbrella. You might be walking through the rain, but you'll come out dry.

Covering is from above and requires sacrifice. Just like parents make sure that their kids have a roof over their head and food on their table to make sure that they are covered, so did our heavenly Father make a sacrifice to make sure we are covered. In order to cover Adam and Eve, God sacrificed a Lamb and gave them sheepskin. (Now that's a good covering, right there)

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21

Adam's and Eve's covering wasn't sufficient. Which means there is no covering that we could make for ourselves that will ever be enough. Nothing but the hand, the Name, and the blood(!) of Jesus can cover us!

1. Covered By His word

Every word in the Bible is for you and for your covering. God speaks nothing but blessings over you. when you don't know what to say; when you are at a loss for words you start standing on His word. He is the word that became flesh and every word that He speaks is true.

Psalm 119:105 says your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. in other words, your word will guide me and I will not get lost along the way.

Better than any insurance is the word of God that you can stand on to cover yourself, your family, your church or this nation. Let's apply the word of God as a covering in every situation.


2. Covered By His Hand


I'm sure you know the song "He's got the whole world in his hands" from Sunday school. You are part of all that He holds and He will never let go of you.
 One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is Psalm 139:5  because it is a really vivid image of how God surrounds us from every side and places His hand over us. The hand of God is on you!

And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand.

Isaiah 51:16

You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Psalms 139:5

3. By His blood

In order to provide the sheepskin for Adam and Eve, God had to sacrifice a Lamb. And once again, someone, and not just anyone, had to shed His blood in order for us to be covered. Even the Children of Israel applied the blood as a covering when the Angel of death was passing by. That blood is still working for us, it never loses its power. 

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Hebrews 12:24

Let's throw away our fig leaves. Let's stop trying to hide from God but let us come naked before Him just as we are. And He will give us a divine covering.

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
  but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Proverbs 28:13