Genesis 35:2 (KJV)
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
Nudity is not acceptable in any society, we all require covering up even in the comfort of our homes but a select few have opted to live without clothes within the confines of their community: the Nudist colony or society, they live in their commune completely naked, not even underwear, as naked as they were born. That is their choice and they have created an environment to support their need.
We change clothes daily, we dress up as the season and weather permits, we wear professional or occupational clothing, even some religious groups have their special garment.
We all came into the world with the filthy garment of sin, Adam and Eve’s nakedness and ours awakens the consciousness of morality, but God offers to change our filthy garments, so He can clothe us with His robes of righteousness. Zechariah 3:3-4 says Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and was standing before the Angel who ordered the filthy garments to be taken from him and changed. Zechariah’s filthy garment is a symbol of sin, and the change of garments is the outward manifestation of the inward transformation that takes place in the presence of God.
Joseph changed garments a few times until he arrived at his destination- he started with a coat of many colours, the symbol of the beloved, and pampered son, envied by his bothers who stripped him of the coat in Genesis 37:3, 23 and sold him for a pittance. The striped coat represents the end of his status as a favoured son to a slave’s garment, but problems and temptation came in the form of Mrs Potiphar, there goes another garment, which signifies the evidence of his guilt and ends the season of slavery according to Genesis 39:12. Enters joseph in his prisoner’s garment in Genesis 39:20, a symbol of shame, guilt and humiliation, wow!
God has a plan to change that garment too, whatever garment you’ve got on, just as He did with Joseph, He will do for you according to Isaiah 61:3.
But here comes Joseph’s final change of garment, through the passage of time and change of garments, he’s about to put the best of garments on, that will overshadow every other garment he’d ever worn.
When God opened the door for Pharaoh to need Joseph, he shaved and changed his garment before he came to Pharaoh in Genesis 41:14. The change of garment represented the end of his season as a prisoner to becoming the Prime Minister of Egypt. Joseph was clothed in garments of fine linen according to Genesis 41:42, the change of his garment represented a beginning.
How many of us are wearing garments that are not meant for us? How many of us have accepted the standard garments? What garments are covering your glory, obscuring your talent and identity? What garment is being used as evidence of your guilt and shame or as a badge of honour?
When the enemy puts a filthy garment on you, change it because God’s new garment will beautify you, gives you dignity, identify you, keep you warm and especially cover shame. Change your garment, it’s highly spiritually recommended.
Shalom
