And God said, “Who told you that you were naked?” Genesis 3:11 (NIV)
Make no mistake. Each pithy question God asks throughout scripture aren’t an indication he lacks wisdom and is in need of clarity. They are always intended to sift through the lies we believe in order that the seed of truth will settle into our brain and rightly align our understanding … if we ponder long enough.
His question to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden struck me in the frontal cortex, that familiar scenario following their disobedience that brought sin into an otherwise perfect, sinless environment …
“Who told you that you were naked?”
God wasn’t confused, massaging his forehead as he glanced around the garden searching for evidence of intrusion.
He knew.
He knew another voice had slithered into the garden and into their heads, empirical evidence being Adam and Eve were hiding when they’d not had need before.
Their behavior—and ours—tells God and the world what we believe about ourselves.
So, who who told you that you were naked?
Taking a little creative license here, I believe God is really asking,
“What voice are you listening to? Because it isn’t mine or you’d not have shame written all over your countenance, hiding precious parts behind leaves … an ineffective strategy as you will soon discover … when, instead, I’ve created you to live lives of authenticity.”
Far unlike me, God is purely loving in his address. “Who told you that you were naked?” His tone rings of justified anger, disappointment, sorrow, a hope they’ll realize they’ve traded his voice of truth with the voice—and message—of the enemy who’s part of the reason their paradise isn’t paradise anymore.
“Who told you that you were naked, Mary? Who told you you were anything less than a beautiful work of art meant to showcase a loving, gracious God?”
And maybe you’re listening to the wrong voices. And maybe they’re creating a false narrative, far from the truth of who God says you are.
Do you believe those unpleasant plot points in your life serve no good purpose? If so … Who told you that you were “naked”?
The story our lives have told (and will continue to tell) is, in fact, a great work of art, an offering for a world in need. Let’s not keep it silent or hidden.
✦Is there a pesky voice you listen to that you know isn’t from God? Where did you learn it?
✦Why is it difficult to embrace our hardships as a gift rather than let them hold us captive and limit the impact we are meant to have?
Thanks for reading!
Once voice in my head says it’s nice to share. If you found this helpful, please share! 😇
✏️If you’d like to receive these devotionals and quarterly author newsletter with bookish giveaways, simply click on the subscribe button below.
✏️To check out my books, hop on over to www.maryfelkins.com/books
Comments