Eve had to call for Adam after she ate — He was in the garage or playing video games, or so many men think.
Scripture says they were elbow-to-elbow.
Instead of standing between his wife and evil, Adam weaseled out. He chose Eve’s dangerous decision over God’s wisdom and love.
Adam abdicated his responsibility to obey [DISOBEDIENCE] and protect [PASSIVITY & COWARDICE]. Instead he chose Eve over God [IDOL WORSHIP].
Can anyone relate? I can.
Afterwards, as he and his wife hid as God came “a lookin.”
. . . God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid [FEAR] because I was naked [SHAME]; so I hid [POSING] myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me [BLAMING GOD], she gave me from the tree [BLAMING EVE], and I ate [ADMITTED ONLY AFTER BLAMING OTHERS].” Gen 3:9-12
In these simple acts, Adam corrupted his design. In doing so, he imprinted a pattern on all of our designs.
As you look through these verses, can you relate? Personally, this is beyond humbling as these “traits” have been part of my own story. Let’s start by focusing on just one.
“I was naked; so I hid”
Ever feel shame because you were exposed? What do you do? In keeping with our role-model Adam — we hide. Behind what? Behind that something that “works,” that allows us to keep face, or to get the validation we need. That “something” is called our pose, or in many cases, it’s our personality.
Ever met the guy who relied all too much on humor or sarcasm to prevent you from really getting to know him? What other poses “work?” Mr. Know-It-All, Mr. Hard Ass, Mr. Passive, Mr. Successful, Mr. Leader Guy, Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. Womanizer, Mr. Angry, Mr. . . .
You’re around a guy and something just doesn’t feel settled or grounded. You feel like he is almost “working the room” in his own way to stay in control and maybe to keep you far from his heart. By the way, going totally passive is a way to “stay in control,” because you prevent anyone from holding you accountable.
You sense that if the diplomas on his wall, the money in his account, the muscles on his arms, the women in his bed, the countless excuses he makes, or the jokester comebacks he always uses were all removed, he would be totally exposed. You would see his “nakedness,” to go back to Genesis 3.
Want to walk away from having to rely upon where you hide, your pose, or that part of your personality that “works” for you? Ask God to show you where you have been hiding, then accept His invitation out.
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