The Father’s Sacrifice – Crossroad Baptist Church

21. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them.

22. And the Lord God said, “Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever.”

23. Therefore the Lord God sent Him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 3:21-23

1. And He showed me a pure river of water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb.

2. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:1-2

The Sacrifice Was Necessary

If anyone should ask what was the first sacrifice in the Bible, that answer is found in Genesis 3:21. The Lord God sacrificed an animal, probably a lamb, in order to clothe Adam and Eve. God did this because He was not only their Creator, but also their Father. He provided for their needs in a loving and compassionate way.

Four things have happened since that very sad beginning in Genesis when the original two humans decided to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit. This tragic choice is commonly referred to as the original sin. Since that original sin, humans have continued to sin tremendously in disobeying God. While we may not share in that first transgression, we have certainly committed a multitude of other transgressions. Since that time of the Adam and Eve’s sin, mankind has continued to sacrifice animals for their survival, but have sacrificed just about every living thing on the planet for their own pleasure. Sacrifices are not only driven by need but they are also driven by greed. Since that original sin, people know now, more facts, more information, and more data has clogged our mental faculties but has not improved our quality of character. Mankind is so much worse today than they were in the days of Adam and Eve. Yet, there is one other important thing that has happened since the time of original sin and that is the fact that God is still the Father Who is in Heaven. Despite all the problems that have come our way as a human race, God continues to be God our Loving Father and He continues to watch over mankind with that same compassion when He sacrificed to provide a covering for Adam and Eve. God’s Mercy is new every morning and great is His faithfulness towards those who dwell upon the earth.

With the continuous rebellion of people against God, we might be tempted to believe that God the Father’s Kindness will continue to be ignored. Humans might conclude that at some point God is going to give up on people and let them perish in their own wickedness. From the looks of things some might even conclude that the intelligence of mankind will be their own destruction and annihilation. Will God’s Mercy end and will He stop showing Grace to the world? Those answers are found in the reference passages as they point to the conclusion of the matter. Mercy will prevail and God will confirm humans as righteous in His sight. In other words, God the Father will turn people back to Him, back to righteousness, and back to blessing of eternal life.

Revelation 22:2 gives us a picture of what will happen in the future. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the Tree of Life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. The Tree of Life, that was once off limits due to transgression, will then be at the center of the street in Heaven. That Tree will stand on both sides of the river in Glory and will be for the healing of the nations. Thus we can conclude that the events that happened in Genesis will be wiped clean by the Sacrifice of our Father, God.

God’s Example of Fatherhood

God has not only assured us of redemption through His Sacrifice but has also provided us with a valuable lesson on how fathers should respond to the needs of their children. As we review the account of Adam and Eve’s transgression, a wonderful illustration of fatherly love emerges from that tragedy. If we are to be successful in the role of fatherhood today, it is imperative that God’s example is followed.

First, God the Father gave clear instructions. Adam and Eve were not handed a massive volume of laws and decrees. They only had one regulation to follow. God commanded them to not eat of the forbidden tree that was in the midst of the Garden. Rather than the first couple focusing on what they were allowed to do, they allowed the serpent to fill their minds with the one thing they were not allowed to do. God commanded them, But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. Genesis 2:17. Much can be said of that same tree feeding poison to the minds of people today. Some people assume that the more you know, the more good you will do. That is not the way it works. Information is powerful and evil information will absolutely destroy. When Adam and Eve accessed the information, it not only made them wise, but it also caused them to be separated from God. The single act of disobedience severed their relationship with God.

So what do you do when children do bad and disobey? You punish them, right? What did God do? God the Father held Adam and Eve accountable for their actions. It was not Adam and Eve who initiated the search to talk to God, it was God. Rather than leaving them in their state, God showed Mercy and held them accountable for their sin, while at the same time communicating with them. People often ask, “why has God abandoned me?” Please check again and you will discover that it is not God who abandons people, it is people who abandon God and then try to cover up their wrong. Adam blamed Eve, but God still held him accountable. Eve blamed the serpent, but God held her accountable. The serpent had no one to blame and God held him accountable. Fathers hold their children accountable not to shame or belittle them, but to demonstrate that there are consequences for actions.

So, what do good fathers do when their children are in trouble? Well, our Heavenly Father sacrificed to cover the shame. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them. While God is certainly just, He is also a loving God who responds to the needs of His children. God looked beyond their disobedience. God looked beyond their fault and saw their need. Was God angry with Adam and Eve. While the Scripture does not emphatically state that, we can assume that He was. However, God’s dissatisfaction with their actions did not hinder Him from showing Mercy. Earthly fathers can learn a valuable lesson to not allow your justice rob your compassion.

So, what should good fathers do to bring their children back? While the Heavenly Father allows people to face the consequences of their actions, God never abandons His children. We learn from Jewish history, that Israel rebelled against God and the Lord allowed them to be carried away into captivity from their homeland. Yet, in that condition, God still provided for their needs. The Lord God was with them in their captivity often encouraging them to pray, repent, and turn back to Him. Thankfully, the Lord never abandons people who earnestly turn to Him and ask forgiveness. Earthly fathers can learn a lesson. 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is so amazing that our Holy God is also our Heavenly Father who forgives our sin.

Perhaps the most amazing picture of God Almighty as our Loving Heavenly Father is found in Luke 15. The Prodigal son had wasted his life, his family inheritance, and precious time on what the Bible describes as “riotous living.” The father, in the parable, patiently waited for the son’s return. When the prodigal finally came to himself, he returned in shame to his father’s house. Rather than receiving a cold reception from the father, that dirty and tired son was greeted by love and complete forgiveness. The Father ran to the son and embraced him in all his filth. The Father commanded the servants to prepare for a celebration to recognize his son “who was dead but was now alive.” That is a wonderful illustration of our Heavenly Father who restores. In God’s Righteous Judgment, He has every right to cast us away, but when we repent and come to Him, He always forgives and restores our soul. Following those examples of fatherhood from God Himself will not only bring families together, but it will also change the world. Remember, God gave a sacrifice for all the world for all time. John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. Thank God that He is our Loving Heavenly Father!

The Father’s Sacrifice