Nakedness, Shame, and Sin

Let's skip ahead to the fall of man. My interest is in this being naked part. Not in the normal perverted way but...why is it nakedness that they are suddenly aware of and ashamed of? I mean, why isn't it something like shame over the fact that they did what God told them not to? When You were walking through the garden, hoping to walk and talk with Adam and Eve, they hide and they are afraid because they are naked. That's weird.

They had never known anything but being naked, and so even if "their eyes were opened," what is the deal with nakedness? Plus, just to continue questioning here, what does it mean that You made garments of skin for them? Is that animal skin or did humans not have physical skin before the fall (which is kind of weird to think about)?

Last question, then maybe I'll look for some thoughts about these questions: And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good from evil." It doesn't say anything about the man doing evil before this, just that he didn't know the difference between good and evil. Does that mean that the man could have been doing evil, and because he didn't know that was forgivable. Maybe this ties together in a weird way with the nakedness.

When he was naked, and didn't know the difference between good and evil, man was most likely completely honest with You. He wouldn't have even know if he had a reason not to be. He didn't feel shame over any of his actions, so he didn't need to hide anything from You? So even if he was doing wrong in any case, it wasn't hidden, protected, silent, and thus growing. He would have been much easier to correct as well. So perhaps this nakedness (actually, the way the Bible layers on meaning, I'm sure this is part of it) is symbolic of a complete openness and honesty with God.

When I feel shame I certainly hide it from You. That's why confession ends up feeling so good. It's a chance to be naked again, to walk in the garden. Then there is nothing to hide, I've shared it all and that's all I can do. So today I'm feeling pretty good, because yesterday I kind of gave a rundown to the other pastors at Exodus Community of where I'm at in all sorts of situations.

But can I confess to You that's there is a whole lot more that I'm ashamed of? I'm ashamed of the way I treated You during tennis season. I'm ashamed of the way I view some of my students at school. I'm ashamed of the way I coach sometimes, that I don't demand perfection like other coaches do. I'm ashamed of the way I'm teaching Bible, because the students don't seem to care. I'm ashamed of a lot of things...many that I don't know how to change.

But I'm going to be naked before You today. I had a dream last night that I was walking around my classroom at school, completely naked and all the students were there. But nobody was feeling ashamed. Maybe it was symbolic like this story from Genesis, complete honesty seems scary, but in the end nobody feels ashamed. So here goes complete honesty in our relationship for the day...and then hopefully continuing on.

Great Father of Creation,
Blessed are You, the LORD.
You are calm and patient
when we are sinful and honest.
You are calling and hopeful
when we are walking away.
You are ready and able
when we acknowledge Your presence.
You are God above all
whether we know You or not.
Bring into to the blessing
of a naked walk with You.
Let me take that blessing
and pour it out into the land.
Amen.