FIG LEAVES #1

When the originals (Adam and Eve) were disobedient and became cognizant of evil, and shame set in, then “they knew they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings” (Genesis 3:7). The story goes on to tell us that shame produces fear. “The man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord” (3:8). And the beauty of nakedness was hidden in a man-made cover-up of fig leaves. The Lord asked (like He didn’t know, and until we confess we never know), “Where are you?” (3:9). The answer is quite telling. “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself” (3:10).

The falseness of fig leaf coverings is laid out clearly: (1) We believe a lie (2) The lie opens us to the evil of the lie (3) Evil is recognizable to the purity of the original condition (4) Recognition produces shame (5) Shame requires a cover-up (6) The cover-up (fig leaf) is the man-made solution (7) Our solutions produce fear (8) Being afraid causes us to lie to ourselves and to God (9) Our fear and cover-up cause us to hide (10) Our hiding is “among the trees of the garden” (3:8) and behind a fig leaf.

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” Jesus