Scripture:
Genesis 3:8-13 ESV
[8] And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. [9] But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” [10] And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.” [11] He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” [12] The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” [13] Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Observation:
Right after, Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit that was forbidden. Adam heard the LORD GOD in the garden HE had come down to meet with them (both Adam and his wife). It was the time set aside daily to spend with GOD in the cool of the day. But something was different this time. Adam heard HIM and hid behind the bushes. He knew something that had not been known before. He was naked, and his wife was as well. Sin had exposed a shame that was not there before. Being naked in front of GOD was normal until the fall they did not know any different. Once shame and guilt became a part of life, their natural tendency was to hide. The other natural tendency is to push the blame. Adam’s response was to blame GOD for the mistake that Adam had made. That woman YOU gave me gave me the fruit, and I did eat. The LORD’S next step in this situation was to ask Eve, who in turn did the same thing. The serpent deceived me.
Application:
How many times have you found yourself in the middle of sin? What was your response? Did you want to hide it? It’s not human nature to expose our flaws. We want to cover them up to hide behind the bush, so to speak. Like GOD can’t see us. I know I get stuck on these things from time to time. But I have to say GOD made you naked all uncovered nothing to hide. Sin wants to take that from you. To make you believe that GOD can’t love you because you made a mistake. Can I tell you something? That’s just not true. Let me ask you something: Do you think GOD didn’t know what was going to happen? HE stands outside of time. HE knew that Adam would not be the spiritual leader he needed to be at that moment. It’s like putting candy in front of a kid and telling them not to eat it when you leave the room. The first thing the kid does is reach for it and then lie about it. It’s not something you have to teach them it happens naturally. What tends to be unnatural is to live naked before the LORD. However, that’s how HE naturally made us. GOD wants us to stop hiding. The Bible says if we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. HE gave us a way out. Just tell HIM. Don’t hide it. Revaluation chapter 12:11 says we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony because we love not our life unto death. Bringing light to our sin takes the power of guilt and shame away and allows us to live victorious over it.
Prayer:
Father, we love you help us to live naked in front of YOU. After all, if we can’t be honest with you, then who can we be honest with? We don’t want to hide anymore. It’s not like you don’t know anyway. Father, right now, I confess my sin. I have fallen short in many ways you know what they are. I ask that you forgive me where I have failed you and trust that your word says you will help me to live a life that brings you honor and glory in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.