We are alone.
"And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." Genesis 2:25
This is hard for most of us to imagine. How could a human being live in such a state - fully exposed in his/her world and free from any sense of fear, shame, guilt, or embarrassment? We are familiar with a common dream that many of us experienced probably somewhere around the middle school years. We are at school or some other place where we are surrounded by our peers. Everything seems normal until we realize we are wearing nothing but our underwear (if that)! No one seems to have noticed it, but how could they not? It is only a matter of time before everyone recognizes your state and ultimate humiliation ensues! There is, however, no remedy. No spare clothes in your bag. Nowhere to hide. No means of escaping the situation. Wondering how on earth you left the house without getting dressed! It's a bit strange that you got to this point without anyone noticing. Hopefully you wake up before the situation deteriorates, but you've experienced the emotions that belie our intense fear of exposure. Such a state of innocence that would allow us to be fully seen and fully known without fear and shame is a fully foreign notion.
Our innocence was lost right there in God's garden. In the very place where man and woman enjoyed the Creator's presence and were surrounded with his loving provision, they chose rebellion. They ignored his limits and reached for being and knowledge never intended for them. The consequence of their choice was immediate and catastrophic. Their eyes opened. Their nakedness realized. Like 7th graders in a nightmare, they reach in desperation for anything that will protect them from the humiliating gaze of others or the convicting, damning justice of an all-seeing, holy God. Yet because humanity chose the enemy's character, he received the enemy's fate: banishment. No longer would she enjoy God's fellowship, nor would he enjoy God's blessing. Desire for the giving and receiving of human love and friendship would be tainted by self-love and an insatiable thirst for gratification. The ground that so readily gave us everything we needed would withdraw its cooperation. Life was easy, but now it's hard. We were friends, but now we're enemies. We were open, but now we're closed. Exposed, with nothing to hide, now everything to hide but scantily covered.
As God pronounces judgment on humanity's rebellion, he includes a promise. It is the tiniest glimmer of hope in the darkest situation. Never has so much been lost so quickly. Yet the enemy who drew us to follow him with lies and false promises would one day be crushed by one who would proceed from the woman. God would take responsibility for the consequences of man's evil and bear on himself the wrath of his own justice. This would happen in a matter of time. In the meantime we would wait, doing our best to live in this broken world while shielding ourselves from God and neighbor.
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