Naked Lies

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Genesis 3:11

Just how naked were Adam and Eve the moment they ate the fruit? A little bit naked? Just enough to know things weren’t quite as they used to be? Embarrassingly naked – like ‘the whole world can see you for who you really are’ naked? Shamefully naked – ‘hiding in the bushes to cover up what’s wrong’ naked?

The nakedness in the story seems to point to something other than ‘in all your bath-time glory’ kind of nakedness. Adam and Eve are hiding from God. Deep shame is on display here. When they mutter from the bushes about their state of nudity, God doesn’t blush or look away in awkwardness. He asks them, ‘who told you … you were naked?’ In other words, ‘Who told you there was something wrong with you?’ or ‘Who’s stolen your confidence?’

Get this: God’s saying to you today, ‘Who told you … you don’t have what it takes … that you’re not clever enough … that you’re not attractive enough … or talented enough?’ Like Adam and Eve, we can believe the slithery lies of the bully or the media or whoever. It doesn’t matter what anybody else says or thinks about you. God’s approval is what you need. And God shouts and sings His approval all over you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, although I am naked and ashamed, You clothe me and make me whole and give me worth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen