God is Better at Covering our Shame
Adam and Eve’s attempt to cover their nakedness is a demonstration of how creative we can be in covering our shame. To this day, human beings are very creative in trying to cover what we perceive to be our inadequacies. Our relationship with shame is still one in which we creatively mask and hide. We develop defense mechanisms, maladaptive patterns of behaviour and distorted beliefs because of the shame of what has happened to us, or what we have done ourselves. Spiritually, like Adam and Eve, we may find that we hide ourselves from the presence of God, instead of revering him, we fear him as one who will hurt us, because of how we now perceive ourselves through our shame.
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed together fig leaves and they made themselves coverings. Then they heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden at the windy time of day. And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. And Yahweh God called to the man and said to him, “where are you?” and he replied, I heard the sound of you in the garden and I was afraid because I am naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I forbade you to eat?” – Genesis 3: 7-11 LEB
Sin has gifted humanity with a sensitivity to shame. This very shame can be what draws us away from God and each other, but it also has the capacity to draw us to him… once we understand that his hearts desire isn’t to punish us, but to cover and restore us. In the account, when God finds them, He asks “who told you, that you were naked?” My question to you is, who told you that you aren’t enough? The redemptive thread throughout the bible indicates that God’s has always desired for us is to be able to walk in the confidence of who we are in Him; who He made us to be. While the enemy wants us to continue to walk in shame, because this alienates us from God and hinders us from truly knowing Him.
Shame has the effect of changing the way we see ourselves. Notice, the enemy didn’t come out and tell them that they weren’t enough, rather he told them that they could be more than enough, that God was somehow the one trying to limit them. He placed doubt in their hearts about God’s word, leading them to disobey and sin, ultimately changing how they saw themselves. The enemy manipulated them into sin, which led to their shame and he is still using that very tactic today. He tries to get us to doubt what God says is truth. The enemy doesn’t need us to believe in him, he just needs us to doubt God’s truth about what is “good for food” (v.6).
What experiences, whether by your choices or the actions of others, have led you to conclude that you are not enough? Or that you’ve lost your value in God’s eyes?
God is better at covering our shame than we are. In the account we see God getting actively involved in covering their nakedness: “and Yahweh God, made for Adam and for his wife a garment of skin, and he clothed them.” 3:21. To produce a garment of skin would’ve required God to sacrifice one of the animals in the garden, thus foreshadowing his redemption plan through Christ’s sacrifice; his long term plan to deliver us from our shame. Notice that Adam and Eve used fig leaves, just like our own attempts to cover our shame, fig leaves aren’t a long term solution. They may have covered them partially, but it could not have protected them from the elements, nor was it something that could last. We might think that our method of dealing with our shame is effective but God’s solutions are long lasting and for our ultimate good. God understands our shame, he knows how uncomfortable our nakedness makes us, how vulnerable we feel. He had always known that Adam and Eve was naked, he did not change, they did. But he still made them coverings for their own sakes. Our nakedness does not offend God, it offends us. Our disobedience is what hurts him, and interestingly that’s what we try to justify. Like Adam and Eve we try to hide and when seen, we deflect the blame. It may very well not be our fault, but the reality is that we are carrying the shame and for us to function optimally we need to address shame, by allowing God to re-dress us with the truth of His love.
Christ’s sacrifice covers us in a way that nothing else ever could. He wants to take our shame, just like He carried the weight and punishment of our sin, and He wants us to take up His easy yoke in exchange. If we can learn to let go of the fig leaves, to stop hiding from God and blaming others, he is ready and willing to clothe us in his love and mercy and grace. What has driven you to the bushes, could it be the shame of addiction, abuse, rejection, wrong doing or lies? What are the fig leaves you have desperately strewn together, could it be lies, aggression, manipulation, running away? Whatever it might be, your heavenly Father is calling your name, eager to cover your shame.
Other verses you may want to explore: Ezra 9:6-9, Psalms 25:1-7, Hebrews 12:1b-3, Isaiah 53: 5.
Be blessing,
KellyPW
Kelly is the founder of Royalty Press United. Author of the Gemstone Royals fantasy series, Twist of Faith and Crossroads. Counseling psychologist, proud Grenadian and devoted follower of Christ.
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