Fig Leaves

On Friday mornings I get together with a group of ladies for prayer and study.  We are working on a book "Seeking Him, Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival" by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth.  

As we were discussing the readings and questions in the workbook today there was a section that brought up Adam and Eve.  The discussion revolved around the question, Ddo we try to hide our sin from God instead of being honest with Him".  

The story of Adam and Eve is a human tragedy.  We know they had a beautiful garden with only one rule to follow.  They broke the one rule God gave them.  Genesis 2:15-17  The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.  But the Lord warned him, "You may eat the fruit of every tree in the garden--except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die. 

Well we all know the how the story goes from there.  Adam and Eve listened to the serpent, ate the fruit, and perfect fellowship with God was broken.  And here we are thousands of years later living in brokenness and chaos as a result of man's first sin.

God and his human children had beautiful, unadulterated fellowship.  They walked together in the garden.  I can imagine Adam and Eve listening as the Lord talked to them about all the beauty they saw.  I can see the Lord teaching them about their world and themselves and sharing Himself with them.  Nothing was between them to blur their vision of God.  And then the fall.  They were ashamed of what they had done, their failure.  They tried to hide and cover themselves.  The sewed fig leaves together to hide their nakedness and shame.  And them came God's question to Adam in Genesis 3:9: "Where are you?"

I never thought of those words this way, but they were the first indication of the separation between God and His creation.  It was all the evidence we need to see the broken fellowship between God and man.  When you're in the house with your spouse but not in the same room you may say, "Honey, where are you?"  You are separated so you seek to find them.  Now, we know God knew where Adam and Eve were, He knows everything.  But I have to wonder if this question was asked and put in the Bible to show that God and man were now separated.  If it was a metaphor for that separation.  

We do the same thing.  Oh, we may not sew together fig leaves but we do try to hide our sin and shame from God.  We sew together our excuses, wrapping them around us like a coat thinking it hides our flaws and failings.  But we don't realize that those flimsy excuses we hide in are just that, flimsy as those fig leaves.  God sees right through them.  The excuses, the lies we tell ourselves.  His Word says in Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  His Word and His eyes cut through our hidings.  He sees the innermost part of our being.  And because our Father sees us, He can fix what is causing our dysfunction...in other words the parts of us that are unsubmitted to Him and cause our sinful nature to rise up and lead us astray.   Some people may find this very uncomfortable, this being fully known.  But I find it comforting.  I want to God fix me!  So His knowing me completely means He knows exactly what needs to be done!  

Thank You Lord for knowing us.  I am so grateful that nothing about me is hidden from You.  That may seem scary, but it is really a safe place.  Please help us to be honest with You...and in doing so become honest with ourselves.  We know that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9  What a blessing to be known and not have to hide or cover ourselves.  The only covering we need is the blood of Jesus.  That is the only thing that covers our sin and shame and enables us to come humbly and boldly into Your Presence.  We now have fellowship restored!  Amen!! 

What are you making excuses for?  What are you trying to hide from God?