The Realization

Genesis 3:7

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.

Remember a few days ago when God created man/woman and we read that they were naked and unafraid in His presence?

Now things have changed. 

The eyes of the ones who were created are now focused on their physical appearance and physical things, because they have fallen from gazing at their Creator.  Sin has occurred, and this changes their vision.

Both  man/woman had directly disobeyed God’s directives and given in to the lies that were whispered to them, in hope of gaining something that God apparently was withholding from them, and here we see the first experience of shame.

In fact, they are so ashamed of their nakedness that they sew leaves together to cover themselves, as if that will keep the Creator from seeing their nakedness.

Doesn’t that seem absurd?

It’s what we do.

We sin.  We realize we’ve sinned.  We try to do something to cover up the shame we feel.  And yet our attempts are futile and ridiculous.

Our Creator made us, fearfully and wonderfully in his image.  So when shame enters because of sin, he still sees us – no matter how much we try to cover up. 

We’re about to read the saddest story in the Bible, that of the separation of the created from the Creator, all because of a choice to believe a lie and act in accordance with that lie.

My heart is aching as I read this story again, because I know that I too would have been tempted and probably disobeyed, but I’m so happy that this is the just beginning of a long story – full of conflict, yes – but overcome with victory – for sure.