It is so true about the fig leaves Adam and Eve used to cover their shame when they sinned. Isn't that interesting...The fig leaves they used hold a direct reference to the fig tree that became accursed when the Lord Jesus found no fruit on it at His appearing. Because the fig leaves symbolises religion. Religiosity. Religion that is unable to bear fruit. Religion that is truly unable to cover sins or lead to true salvation. Only traditional man made practices and traditions. Religion that unlike the faith and power that came from the burning bush that Moses saw; a burning bush of faith that was being consumed by the fire yet was not destroyed (3). Like the Lord Jesus being falsely persecuted by the religious leaders yet held His peace (4) and even prayed for them. It was phenomenal. 

It was as though that fig tree was like the wicked and lazy servant (10) who despised its master at his appearing and did not want to produce at His visitation. So that the Lord cursed it (1) for not recognising His sovereignty and Lordship. The winds and the wave obeyed Him (6). The dead were brought back to life (8). Yet that fig tree remained unmoved. Unproductive. Uncaring at the coming of the Saviour and Lord of all. That fig tree was indeed the resemblance of religion. Religion that is unable to produce true fruits. Religion that is unable to be a consuming fire that is not consumed but remain burning like the burning bush (3). Religion that like Adam and Eve who sought after those same fig leaves to cover themselves from their sin. Yet the covering of religiosity and hypocrisy was not sufficient in that they did not confront and acknowledge their true error but only hid away with their coverings of religiosity at the appearance of the Lord walking through the garden on that day (2).

It was as though the action and intuition of Adam and Eve brought a curse upon the fig tree. That after many generations the fig tree kept this same remembrance of the attempt of Adam and Eve to cover themselves. That it was unable to provide the true fruit of repentance and fulfilment needed for atonement. So that when we are religious and the fire comes we are burned up (13). We are not able to remain a consuming fire. We are consumed. When we are religious we are unable to bare fruits and be constantly bearing fruits in season and out of season. We are unable to produce fruits when the Lord requires of us. We are only able in season but not out of season. So that at His appearing we have nothing and like the wicked servant we become accursed.

Through problems and disappointments. A burning bush unconsumed by the fire of persecution and offences but remains standing a flame of fire, a life giving Spirit. A remarkable scene. A phenomenon. A testimony. The true coverings of our shame and sins. The shame of the flesh. The shame of wrath, grudges, envy, hatred, sadness, frustration, anger etc. Our sins are covered by the sacrifice of the lamb, The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the sacrificial lamb that was slain (16). That no longer do we need the covering of the sheep skin (12) to cover our shame nor the effectiveness of religion and its practices and rituals. Now the true covering comes through the sacrifice of the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Symbolised through the Lords Supper symbolising the body and blood of Christ the sacrificial lamb that was slain to provide true atonement and forgiveness to those who believe in Him and His Resurrection from the dead that we too as He is can become a new creation. In that the religious practice and falsehood of the Pharisees were unable to atone for or provide for the people of that time. But only the example of forgiveness love and mercy that Jesus left an example to us of the Way, the Truth and the Life that leads to the Father (17). That no one can enter except through Him. That religion or religious practices cannot atone for. That fig leaves are unable to cover. Only through Him and the covering that is manifested through His Spirit, the knowledge and wisdom of His Word.