Bible Passage: “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:7 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-31; Genesis 2:1-25; Genesis 3:1-24
When it comes to shame, let’s start at the beginning.
God created everything from nothing, including man and woman, and called it all “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There was no sin, no division, and no death at this point, and humanity walked with God face-to-face in Paradise. All was perfect.
There was one boundary: do not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:15-17). While theologians debate the nature of this prohibition, there seems to be something about it where mankind seeks to become “like God” Himself, needing only themselves and not Him.
Adam and Eve “turn to their own way” and ignore God’s command, breaking the first commandment and committing the first sin (Genesis 3:6). The results were division between themselves, between them and God, a casting out of God’s presence and Paradise, and ultimately, death, since they had been removed from the Source of all life.
But there’s one more little tidbit about this story, reflected in today’s verses.
As soon as they sinned, for the first time, they felt their nakedness, and with it, shame, and they tried to cover themselves up with flimsy fig leaves. I can only imagine how scratchy and unpleasant that must have felt.
It’s a good picture of shame for men. We screw up, feel the weight of it, and then do whatever we can to try and cover up the unpleasantness, even in unpleasant ways.
Shame has its roots in sin, as it did for Adam and Eve. In our fallenness, we don’t just feel the guilt of doing something awful; we feel the sting of shame for being something awful.
But God wasn’t willing to leave them in their shame, and won’t leave us there either.
Seeing their weak attempts to cover their shame, God Himself made garments of animal skin and clothed them properly (Genesis 3:21).
And much more, He promised that one day, One would come who would end our guilt and shame for good (Genesis 3:15).
From the beginning, sin brought shame, and from the beginning, God sought to end it. He did it for them, and will do it for us.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the grace You have given through Jesus. Forgive my sin, and remove my shame. Amen.
Reflection: What shame have you held on to that is directly tied to a sin you have committed? Why do you think shame and sin are so interconnected?
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