Eve and Adam didn’t accept God’s rule. They wanted to be in charge of their life, do their own thing. God was a killjoy, a spoilsport. Tempted by Satan and believing his lie (Genesis 3:4b-5) “Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil.”; Eve rejects God’s rule on her life. Adam follows. They allow the created thing (the snake or Satan) to instruct them and the follow it rather than God.
Naked and ashamed:
The first consequence of disobedience to God’s design is (Genesis 3:7) is that “… the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” They weren’t comfortable to be naked with each other any more There was a loss of trust and intimacy and faith in each other. So they covered themselves up, hiding from each other. The chapter goes on to tell us that Adam and Eve even tried to hide from God. Adam tells God (Genesis 3:10) “I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” How his attitude has changed! This was the man who accepted the good gift of a naked woman from God.
Having disobeyed God’s rule, that part of them that makes them uniquely male and female and enables them to joyously fulfil the command to procreate and fill the earth is the very body part they now want to hide. It is a knowledge that makes them both afraid and ashamed. It resulted in banishment from the garden. Man and woman are now unable to trust each other with their bodies or with their sexual identities and roles (Genesis 3:16-17).
They no longer enjoyed that perfect relational intimacy with God and each other. And everything in God’s good creation – all that was given to be used as God intended to care for each other and all of creation is all damaged and messed up. This includes their sexuality.
Individually neither Adam nor Eve is trustworthy or reliable to cherish the other. Both have become selfish. There is self-interest, mutual hostility and vulnerability. Their desires sexually and otherwise are messed up. They are aware, guilty and ashamed.
The need for the redemption of sex:
Adam and Eve’s rejection of God went further than their shame and vulnerability. Their relationship with God and with each other was disrupted. And God sent them out from their perfect place in Eden.
In Genesis 3:16-19, we see God telling Eve how the joy of having a baby will be one of severe pain and that “…your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
God then tells the man that he will struggle to be the leader and supplier to his family, “… you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.”
And this struggle continues today. We’re still living in the shadow of the rebellion against God. Sexuality in couple relationship is anything but perfect.
And not just sexuality and relationships. Our very personal self image is broken. As is our gender roles and orientation.
Come back next week as we explore the ‘anything but perfect’ world.
Recent Comments