Signs of Grace

Genesis 3:21 records another gracious act by God on behalf of Adam and Eve.  When they ate of the forbidden fruit, the first couple felt ashamed and became aware of their nakedness.  Foolishly, they tried to cover their own sin and shame by sewing together aprons made of fig leaves.  Having no experience with death of any kind, you can imagine their surprise when those leaves became brittle and crumbled, leaving them exposed and disgraced once again.  Every attempt we make to cover our own sin is just as foolish and just as futile.  However, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.”  God’s kind gesture required the very first sacrifice of animals.  This sacrifice was a forerunner of the sacrifices God would later require of His people, which were themselves types of the supreme sacrifice that God Himself would make to save mankind from sin and restore us to fellowship with Him.  The undoubtedly beautiful clothes that God made for Adam and Eve would be a continual reminder of His love for them, and His gracious provision to overcome their sin and shame.  When the proper time would come, God’s own Son would be sacrificed so that we can be clothed in the robe of His righteousness, an even more beautiful garment than Adam and Eve's.  “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

The fall into sin brought grievous consequences for every generation following Adam and Eve, including the first generation of their children.  Eve recognized God’s grace in the birth of her firstborn, Cain, when she said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man” (Genesis 4:1).  She could not have foreseen, however, that pain that would follow when in a fit of jealous rage he murdered his brother, Abel.  Who can imagine the sorrow this first mother felt at the very first human death, the death of her own son?  And who can fathom the added pain she felt that his death occurred at the hands of her firstborn?   Imagine the horror and outrage of Adam and Eve’s other children over this heinous crime!  It’s no wonder that Cain pleaded with God:  “My punishment is more than I can bear.  Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me” (Genesis 4:13-14).  Such a reaction on the part of Cain’s generation would be understandable.    They may well have thought, “Put to death the murderer, and there will be no more murders.”  Cain had good reason to fear for his life.  But God immediately quashed Cain’s fears.  He said: “‘Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.’ Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him” (Genesis 4:15). Yes, God cursed Cain because of his sin, as He had Adam and Eve, denying him a settled life of farming like his father, and forcing him to become a nomad, in the land of wandering (that is, “Nod”) east of the Garden of Eden.  But God also put a mark on Cain to deter anyone who might try to avenge Abel, threatening vengeance on them seven times over.  On the basis of Scripture we don’t know that nature of this mark or sign, but surely this was a sign of God’s grace.  God’s Word says, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed” (Genesis 9:6).  Cain was deserving of death for his capital crime, but God in His grace preserved his life.  This is just the first example of what David teaches us about the Lord in Psalm 103:10: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”  

How often we complain that life is not fair.  In truth, we should be thankful that life isn’t fair.  As the song “Justice for All” by Bob Kauflin puts it: 

How many times have we cried out to God saying life just isn't fair,

Complaining we don't get what we deserve and wondering if He cares.

Somehow we're not so amazed anymore by the grace that has brought us thus far,

When we feel God owes us explanations for the grievances in our hearts

But there is justice for all measured by One,

When Innocence received the wrath for the wrongs of everyone.

Justice for all so the guilty could be spared,

And be thankful that this life is not fair.

Truly, like Cain, we can be thankful that this life isn’t fair.  If we received all the justice from the hand of God that we deserve for our sins, we would be lost forever.  But thankfully, God sent His Son to take that just punishment for us.  Everyday, I wear a mark, a sign of God’s grace around my neck to remind me that even though I deserve to die because of my sin, God has spared my life and redeemed me for eternity through the death of His own Son, Jesus Christ my Savior.  The sign that I wear is a cross.  I thank God for this mark of His grace!

Copyright by the Author.