1. They Hid Behind the Trees (Genesis 3:8)
After Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they did was hide.
"They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden… and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden."
Notice something:
They hid behind the very thing God created.
The trees were not the problem.
The sin was the problem.
But instead of running to God, they ran behind the trees.
This is what sin does — it makes you hide.
People still hide today:
- Hide behind religion
- Hide behind titles
- Hide behind church attendance
- Hide behind good works
- Hide behind excuses
- Hide behind "I'm alright"
But hiding doesn't remove guilt — it only delays the conversation.
God didn't ask, "Where are you?" because He didn't know.
He asked, "Where are you?" because Adam didn't know where he was anymore.
Sin will move you:
- From walking with God
- To hiding from God
- From fellowship
- To fear
They once ran to God
Now they run from God
2. They Covered Themselves With Fig Leaves (Genesis 3:7)
"And they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."
This is the first man-made religion in the Bible.
They tried to fix themselves.
They tried to cover their own sin.
They tried to hide their shame.
Fig leaves represent:
- Self-righteousness
- Human effort
- Man-made covering
- Trying to look saved without being saved
Fig leaves look good at first… but they dry out quickly.
Your works can't cover sin.
Your effort can't cover guilt.
Your goodness can't cover disobedience.
They made aprons, but God later gives them coats.
Because what man makes is never enough.
Fig leaves say:
"I can fix me."
But the gospel says:
"You can't fix you — God must cover you."
3. God Called Them Out (Genesis 3:9)
"And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?"
God didn't leave them hiding.
God came looking.
This is grace before the cross.
God pursued them while they were guilty.
They weren't praying.
They weren't repenting yet.
They weren't asking for forgiveness.
But God still came.
God always takes the first step.
4. God Rejected the Fig Leaves
Notice something powerful:
God never accepted their fig leaves.
He didn't say:
"Nice job Adam, good effort."
No. Because man-made covering cannot deal with sin.
You can cover sin from people…
But you can't cover sin from God.
The fig leaves covered:
Their eyes
Their bodies
Their embarrassment
But not their guilt.
5. God Made Coats of Skin (Genesis 3:21)
"Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them."
This is the first sacrifice in the Bible.
For God to make coats of skin:
Something had to die.
Blood was shed
Life was taken
Innocence died
So guilt could be covered
Adam and Eve tried leaves
God gave them skin
Leaves came from plants
Skin came from sacrifice
This is pointing to Jesus.
Fig leaves = Works
Coats of skin = Grace
Fig leaves = Man covering himself
Coats of skin = God covering man
Fig leaves = Temporary
Coats of skin = Provided by sacrifice
6. God Didn't Patch Their Fig Leaves — He Replaced Them
God removed their covering…
And replaced it with His covering.
God will never improve your righteousness —
He replaces it with His righteousness.
You don't need better fig leaves
You need a coat from God
The coats were:
- Thicker
- Stronger
- Permanent
- Provided by God
This is salvation.
You stop hiding…
Stop sewing…
And let God clothe you.
7. The Progression of Genesis 3
Look at the order:
They sinned
They realized they were naked
They hid behind trees
They made fig leaves
God called them out
God killed an animal
God clothed them
This is the whole gospel:
Sin
Conviction
Hiding
Self-effort
God's call
Sacrifice
Covering
Closing
Some people are still:
Hiding behind trees
Sewing fig leaves
Avoiding God's voice
But God is still asking:
"Where are you?"
You can't hide behind:
Your past
Your pain
Your position
Your personality
Because God didn't come to expose you —
He came to cover you.
Adam hid behind trees…
But Jesus died on a tree.
And what Adam lost in the garden…
Jesus restored at the cross.
Stop hiding.
Stop sewing.
Let God clothe you.
Because fig leaves fall off…
But what God puts on you…
Stays on you.