“Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)

Tunics of skin” came from an animal that died a violent death. Its blood was shed that they might have a covering. But surely, it would have been a trivial matter for the LORD to provide coverings without such an act. The creator of the universe can surely manufacture clothing of wool, cotton or some other material. Why “Tunics of skin”? Why the violent death?

There is nothing pleasant in what took place here. We naturally recoil at the very thought of shed blood. It is violent, gory and offensive. To be unaffected is to have a rather callous and cold heart. And yet the LORD, whom we believe is filled with goodness and love, is responsible.

Animal sacrifice, which will become common place in the Bible, points to the cross. It prefigures the violent and bloody death of the Son of God. Though man nailed Christ to the Cross it is seldom appreciated that it is the Father who ordained His death. “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death” (Acts 2:23). The violent death of the Son reveals God’s passionate hatred of sin.

We will never value the love of God until we first appreciate the His holiness.