With the kind of sins that we have done in the past and for many other reasons, I struggle with shame and fear of man.
Genesis records how the world was 'unashamed' before the fall, "the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." Genesis 2:25.
But then they fell into sin and they were very conscious of how spiritually ugly they were! The Adam and Eve were ashamed of themselves. They tried to cover themselves with fig leaves (Gen.3:7), so that the one could not see the others shame -in this way they actually hid from each other. We often do the same thing, hiding who we really are, so that we will not have to endure humiliation.
When God showed up on the scene, they hid because "I was naked" (3:10). What does God do?
He dose not say, "I made you perfect! You have nothing to be ashamed of. Take off those silly cloths and be free!" Nor dose He zap them instantly.
God acknowledges that they have a good reason for being ashamed. In fact he proclaims the infamous curse that we have lived under. But God does not leave them without hope. He points them to the coming Messiah in verse 15, and then gives them a picture of the gospel:
He covers over their shame with clothes of skin as if to say, "You are shameful, but I will cover over your shame."
(Isaiah 61:10) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God,for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
What a wonderful gospel! Now, I do not need to live hiding shame -not because I am such good person, but because God has such abundant grace!
