God's desire to be with us runs from Genesis to Revelation—it's the heart of the covenant.
God has always revealed his desire to be with us. It's a central theme of the storyline of Scripture.
To make this clear, let's consider another link between Genesis and Revelation.
In Genesis 3:21, after God pronounces the curse upon Adam and Eve, he shows them mercy. We read, "And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them."
Even in their exile from the Garden, God is clothing them, a foreshadowing that points to the Great Wedding at the end of time. We read in Revelation 19, "It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints."
God had a plan for Adam and Eve—and for us—to be reunited with Him. To know him - forever. And that is the destination we see in Revelation for all who believe and are united with Christ.
In week 1, I shared John 17:3 with you, where Jesus teaches:
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
God desires that we would know God. And God can accomplish his goals. So God is knowable. He is immanent. He is God with us. Even when Adam and Eve rebelled against him, God immediately acted to restore the relationship.
Our confidence in knowing God is based on his promise to make himself known to us.
Even God's holiness gives us confidence that God is with us. Why is that? Well, because God is holy, God's promises are reliable and sure. And God makes covenants to be with his people.
Let me quote from John Frame:
"The heart of the covenant is a relationship of intimacy. The chief promise of the covenant is the Lord's word, 'I will be with you'. God's promise to Israel prior to the Exodus was, 'I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.'
This intimate relationship, the heart of the covenant, resounds through Scripture. Because he is our God and we are his people, he will be 'with us' for all eternity: Immanuel."
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
The story of God clothing Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 is a powerful picture of His mercy and provision, even in the midst of their exile. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's tender care during a season of personal failure or wandering.
The imagery of clothing in Scripture, from the garments of skin in Genesis to the fine linen of the saints in Revelation, points to God's ultimate plan for our redemption and restoration. How does this overarching narrative of God's covenant love give you a sense of secure belonging?
Read through the Bible's storyline this week, noting how God's desire to dwell with His people runs from Genesis to Revelation.
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