In Hiding

It's not clear why Adam and Eve hid from God after eating the Garden's forbidden fruit. Did the couple fear confrontation? Did they fear punishment? Did they fear death? Or my personal guess, did the fruit of "knowledge of good and evil" reveal to them that their sin has forever separated them from God?

It's not clear why the two hid from each other either -- sewing clothes out of fig leaves and "making coverings for themselves." Why did they feel the need to hide from each other? What effect did sin and shame have on their relationship?

In either case, the Bible simply gives Adam's reply: "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

Fear. Nakedness. Hiding.

I don't think Adam really believed he could outrun or hide from the omniscient and omnipresent God. I think he hid because he just felt so, so ashamed. Maybe even to the point that he believed God could no longer accept him.

It's difficult to expose our shame, our sins, our failures, our flaws,and our inadequacies. Sometimes I can't even admit when I've gained 5 lbs, or received a bad score on a test, much less deeper issues like chronic sins of envy, lust, hatred, gluttony, and pride. But I've been witnessing that not only does God embrace us despite our impurities; He works through them to create ultimate good. How bizarre, strange, and yet so incredibly magnificent.

In my failures, I'm learning to embrace the flawed woman that God has built me to be. Not only so, but I soon want to boast of my weaknesses, so that it will be evident it is Christ who works in me.