A covering is used to cover something else, typically in order to protect or conceal it. When I begin to think in terms of our spiritual covering that God has provided, my heart is overwhelmed by the depth of God’s love for me. I know that many have written and spoke on this subject and that my few words will be feeble in comparison but sometimes as one of the Redeemed I just need to say so.
First of all, if something needs covered this means it is vulnerable or weak and needs protection from the elements surrounding it so it will not suffer harm or damage. When God came to me I was lost and undone and needed my sins to be covered by the blood of His Son. I am reminded of a couple of scriptures that describe this covering so well. First in the garden of Eden when Eve and Adam sinned against God and knew they were naked they tried to make their own covering to cover their nakedness and sin by sewing fig leaves together. But this did not work. They were still ashamed. When God came to them in the garden and they confessed what they had done wrong, God himself made them tunics of skin and clothed them. This highlights that there would have to be a sacrifice now to cover the sin of mankind which would be Jesus’s death upon the cross. God himself provided the sacrifice that was needed.
The other scripture that I identify with so well is in Ezekiel 16. In this scripture we find a babe that has been cast out without a father or mother to care for it. As others passed by no one had compassion or pity for the babe. But when He passed by, He said it could live. He spread His skirt over the babe and covered it. He entered into a covenant with the babe. It now belonged to him. He washed away all the blood and anointed it with oil. Then He dressed the babe with the best garment and shoes. Aren’t you glad that when Jesus came by your way that he reached down into the depths of your sin, picked you up, cleansed you, filled you with his Spirit, and dressed you in new garments-made you a new creature and made a covenant with you?
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.
I am also so glad that He not only saved my soul but that He is ever present upon this journey of life to be our Protector and Provider. Many times I think about the mother hen and her little chicks and how that they may be all over the place but when danger arises they flock to their mother and she spreads her wings over them to protect them. I want to stay under the wings of God’s protection. A great example of God’s protection is shown when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. It took the blood on the doorpost to bring the deliverance but also on the journey through the wilderness God protected and provided for their every need.
Exodus 13:21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.
In the desert the heat is unbearable during the day and the nights are so very cold. The cloud provided them shelter from the sun and the pillar of fire provided heat and light for the night. At one point the Egyptians were so close that the children of Israel could see them. They began to worry and complain and blame Moses. Moses told them that the Lord shall fight for you and to hold their peace. So the angel of the Lord which went before the camp of Israel removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them. It came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians and a cloud of light to the children of Israel and they came not near each other all night. Moses stretched out his hand over the Red Sea and the Lord caused the sea to go back all night long to create a path wide enough for the thousands of Israelite’s to cross over. If anyone had decided to leave the camp they would not have survived. If you want God’s protection and favor you have to stay in His camp and do His will.
God is in control of everything and I definitely want to be in a place where I can be covered by His protection. I have been in this way for several years and know that many times in my life that God’s hand has kept disaster and trouble from overwhelming me and mine. I believe that He can do anything and that He will work on my behalf when I have needs or problems.
Deuteronomy 33: 12 And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.