From
Genesis to Revelation the bible is a love story where a compassionate, loving
creator God passionately pursues His creation.
The Bible is a relational document, and theology is basically the charts
and lists we have made out of this document.
We have turned a love story into theology. The first act of “religion” is recorded in
Genesis 3:7 when Adam and Eve first discovered they had sinned: “then the eyes
of both of them were opened; and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig
leaves together and made themselves coverings” (NKJV). In Gen. 2:25 Moses states Adam and Eve were
both “naked and not ashamed.” Then in
verse 3:10 Adam says he is “naked and afraid”, and in verse 11 God asks them
“who told you that you were naked.” Four
references to naked in 12 verses - what’s going on here? The Hebrew word “hagonah” translated
“coverings” in 3:7 actually means loincloth or girdle, a garment
that encircles the lower torso, and is translated aprons, girdings,
skirts, cloths, and assorted other ways in other translations. The whole point here may be missed: they were
naked and unashamed before their relationship with God is broken, then they
knew they were naked and were afraid afterward.
We think of them as being just nude but it may be much more than
that. What if because of their
relationship with God, in His presence, in the garden, they were sheathed... covered, in God’s glory
and radiated that glorious light much as Moses did after he stood in the
presence of God. What if they were
clothed in God’s light and unashamed, and the instant that relationship was
broken, much like throwing a light switch, God’s glory radiating from them went
dark and they were naked, ashamed and afraid. Moses wore a veil not to hide the
splendor of God’s glory... but to hide that His glory was “passing away” (2
Cor. 3:13). Perhaps, like Moses, they covered themselves to hide the fact that
the splendor of God’s glorious presence had vanished. Religion is always man’s
attempt to cover himself. This is just commentary but don’t you just love it!
DESTINED TO GLOW
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