Genesis 3:6-7
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
A delight to the eyes – desirous to make one wise… The fruit appears to be so good, worth even defying God for. But what was the real result.
Fear.
Shame.
Kind’ve the opposite of what both the serpent said would happen, and what Adam and Eve thought would too. Commentators disagree on why their eyes were opened – some say its because they actually were given knowledge of good and evil – found that what they did was evil and had shame about it. Others think that the very act of disobeying God made them realize they were naked – bare – before their creator. They disobeyed and felt shame.
Have you disobeyed and felt shame?
Have you ever been tempted by something that appeared to be so, so good?
What happened after the good part passed?
Shame, fear, hurt, pain, anger, frustration.
Sometimes, for me, it opens up a feeling of nakedness, like everyone can tell that I’ve done something wrong.
Romans 7:24-25
[24] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Without Jesus, I have no hope. Without Jesus I have a life of shame for my past mistakes. Without Jesus, I have pain, anger frustration…
But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, who has delivered me from this body of death – forgiven my sins and loved me even in my sin.
Amen.
