Different
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25 NASB
Naked – It’s possible that we’ve overlooked the obvious in this verse. We are so intent on applying the unity of the previous verse (“one flesh” – basar ‘ehad – one in proclamation) that we might have ignored the fact that Adam and the woman are different. Of course, that’s obvious. If you were standing with them in the Garden, you wouldn’t have any trouble at all noticing that these two naked people are not identical. That’s the whole point. Men are not identical with women (fortunately). That’s hard to miss when you’re naked. This means we have to rethink our penchant for unity. The unity of verse 24 is not identity. It is not agreement. It is transparency. To be “naked” is to be seen without covering, and spiritually this mean to be seen for who I really am. It does not mean that I have to agree with you. It simply means that you and I see each other as we are. No masks. No assumptions. No requirements. Naked is also a state of mind.
We already know that the Hebrew ‘arom (naked) is used as a wordplay with ‘arum (crafty) to describe the serpent. The serpent appears naked, but in fact has a hidden agenda. He is not transparent. TWOT suggests that the use of ‘arom implies innocence, but I think transparency is more appropriate. Innocence has the connotation of ignorance. Blissful perhaps, but nevertheless, something I am not aware of. Transparency suggests that I am fully aware. I really do know you, and because I do, I accept you as you are. Different from me but just as valuable to me and to yourself. Transparency does not require that you agree with me before I validate you. In fact, the point of this verse is that you and I are strikingly different, and that’s what makes it so beautiful. We can find a place where our purposes join, where we journey together, where God is revealed in the “oneness” of us. But that does not mean I become you or you become me. Male and female are always marvelously different, in anatomy and epistemology, in emotion and execution. It is learning to be joined that makes a marriage, but that does not require that I think and feel the same as you do. It means that I “see” you, acknowledge you, validate you and love you because you are not me.
This is hard to do. So much of the time we feel as if agreement is the true measure of unity. We leave fellowship because we don’t agree with the other person’s doctrines. We move away because we can’t get along. We excommunicate, divorce, disassociate and disavow because we want the other person to conform to our point-of-view. We have forgotten the lesson of “naked.” Intimacy does not depend on identical. In fact, it flourishes in different. Can you say, “I love you because you are different from me,” and mean it? Or are you afraid that if I am different your identity is threatened?
Topical Index: naked, identity, ‘arom, transparency, different, Genesis 2:25
I was thinking about the oneness of function, which is about purpose and execution. Oneness of COUNTING, however, means, essentially, absorption into being and essence. I have noticed that the occult teaches this absorption: it teaches that the goal of life is to hand over individual consciousness to be swallowed up into “collective consciousness”. There is something truly creepy about that. The flesh has noticed that love has to do with ‘losing’ myself: losing awareness of myself in the awareness of another; of subsuming my interests in the interest of yours, and it concludes that the goal of existence must be the LOSS of individuality, which is the only way the flesh can understand, for the flesh is all about competition (covetousness).
This is the opposite (no surprise) of what love really does, which is the completeness and differentiation of identity: where I am fully identified as different than you. That difference is essential to love, as love is all about the OTHER. If you and I have lost our identity, and the awareness of our difference, we have also lost the other. We are all the same, and therefore have lost the other (which is essential to love). That is the wrong way to count to one (unity)! True unity is only possible when I am fully differentiated from you; not when I AM you. A clock only works when the gears are different from the hands; not when the gears ARE the hands. Love is all about being ok with that: with accepting difference without feeling threatened by it. Then function becomes possible. Until then, it is all about a fight about which identity is going to swallow all the other identities and exist alone in its bloated triumph.
Unfortunately, I think we unconsciously assign this egotistical understanding to our idea of God, too, when we imagine Him as being ALL powerful, conscious, present and knowing (and therefore all alone!). These are all static conditions: something you will never find love in the state of. I think our understanding about God and about love can become polluted (very) when we don’t understand what love is about.
Love is possible only when there is a difference, but the difference is going to be about function – not essence – as the difference of identity is about acting in unique ways; not about who gets the recognition. A gear in a clock becomes a true gear when it is succeeding in moving the hands of that clock. I become fully me only when I am successful in doing my part in making you possible. At that point, someone in the flesh may well not be able to tell where you leave off and I begin, as we are accomplishing the same thing – for love is all about what happens in between that you and that me (function) – but it is going to be “making (allowing) all the difference” between us, too. LOL
I view this slightly different.
Male and female – Rules and boundaries…
When we accept that a relationship is formed, shaped and bound on these exact same principle on earth as it was intended in the Genesis narration we learn to accept that it is only through this harmonious interaction everyone wins…
Losing oneself in the other is not how I view this, I view it as becoming single minded as one unit of function – serving one purpose, uplifting and aiding each other. This does not sound like losing oneself in the other it is about finding one’s purpose through the other. A Godly purpose… Matthews 5. Micah 6, Matthew 25 etc.
John 6 Eat of Yeshua’ flesh drink of His blood not to be Yeshua but to find our purpose and intent in Him…
Spiritual completeness is this intimate relationship with YHVH through His Son, not as we figure it to be but as YHVH has orchestrated: Today I help another find purpose, Tomorrow another helps me find reason, The following day another lifts me out of the pit of despair…
How and when these rules and boundaries or male and female functions are intended to be revealed no one knows. The devil tricked the paradise dwellers that they are independently important and will not die should they not gain a Godly intimate relationship with each other – he was right naturally we will not die life just becomes so confusing and a maze that we often get “lost” and Yeshua has to be revealed to save us the lost sheep…
All with a Godly purpose for by day 8 – When we discuss our discovery of God’s Torah God reveals His purpose for us as Sons and Daughters…
Playing our Godly role one day at a time, every day a different function the fullness of Christ.
Do not loose ourselves in others, find ourselves by interacting on a Godly manner with others, otherwise we remain naked…
I appreciate the clarification about ‘losing self’ (as that is what it can appear to be from a flesh point of view) but you explained what actually occurs better when you described it, Seeker, especially when it comes to marriage. Thank you for that.
However, the “naked” part – which is transparency – as Skip explains, is (the way I am trying to hear him say it, anyway) about seeing ourselves and others the way we really are. I think of it as a form of faith – right now anyway – for none of us are truly realized in our identity. We see the POTENTIAL in others as well as ourselves) through the eyes that YHVH views us with, and we project faith in that potential, which allows it space to materialize. We are to hold that faith for each other when we lose sight: someone else ‘sees’ us for our potential until we can walk into that identity. Something like that.
Right Relationship
Our unity is found in our identity. We are one. One in purpose. One in intent. One in design. One in the bond of love. We are family.
One LORD. One faith. One baptism. One God. One Savior. One hope.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say God’s favorite number (If He has one) is “one.”
This is God’s goal. This is His will. This is His intent. This is His hope: “that they (they is us) may be “one.”
How is this to be accomplished? What is our part to play? Each one plays a part. Each one contributes to the body of Christ. We are now His (present) body and (future) Bride. (Remember?) Each part of the body contributes to the whole. We each are a small, but vital part to the whole. God, our Designer, Architect and Maker has made us each different, (unique) in order that we would be “One.” Unity or wholeness, (shalom) is not found in uniformity. Take a “selah” moment and look around.. – (whether snowflakes or fingerprints) our Father delights in diversity!
Please remember, “you are unique.” — Just like everyone else! But as members of His body, (everybody is “somebody” in His body!) We each have a job to do..as able ministers of the new covenant, — we are to “serve one another in love!”
Now, concerning our “nakedness” (yes, read transparency), this is what the scriptures say: ~ NOTHING (not one thing) in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account ~ (Hebrews 4.13) He knows. He sees “right through us.” Each and every one of us. And our “fig leaves.” David knew this (right well) for he wrote: ~You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar ~ (Psalm 139.2)
What? He knows EVERYTHING about us? And loves us still? There IS no other word for “grace,” but AMAZING.
And the covering (the atonement) God has given unto us is wonderful. He says unto each of us, as He calls us by name, “Got you covered!” Your sins are forgiven. You are clean. “Enter in.”
Our God is such an amazing Father. Prodigal sisters and brothers, we have this wonderful promise: ~ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ~ (1 John 1.9)
Relationship can be restored. We once again can become “rightly-related” or righteous in His sight. And if our hearts are right with God, (nothing between my soul and my Savior) we have peace with God and with one another.
There is so much more to say, but please.. find your Bible, God’s love letter to His children, and read Romans chapter five.
May this be our constant prayer of invitation: ~ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
~ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ~ Amen.
Thank you, Carl, for adding some spiritual spice in the relationship – So many people misuse or abuse that Eph 4 oneness to make people feel guilty so that they reveal “sacrifice for others”. We easily forget that the oneness is the result of the calling to use the five gifts Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist Shepard and Teacher to bring us to a harmony in perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…
Laurita I am busy reading up on The Philosophy of Taharat HaMishpachah & Mikvah about purifying the marriage to make it a more supportive relation so that the spouses understand each others natural sides to find spiritual insight into their Godly relation. Some interesting views can be downloaded if needed…
Some one once taught me that I can only understand another person when I walk in his shoes for at least a month… This does not make him more transparent to me it opens my heart to be transparent towards him…
Just some thoughts, do not try to change but rather try to include for that is what Yeshua did – Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Now who would have a close friendship with 12 and know that one is the devil… Would you and I invite the devil into our inner circle just because we need him for a Godly cause…
Hello Skip and Everyone,
I like your definition of unity being truly myself and allow others to be truly themselves, but am quick to add the condition if regarded as significant or family. While I may not have loving thoughts for the person who cuts in front of me at the supermarket, I am going to try and understand my wife if she needs to go back to the meat counter for some reason and we may have already been at the store for a good hour!
I like Laurita’s analogy about the gears turning the hands of the clock, function to make the clock work.
Here is where things get muddy.. When hearing “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Savior, red flags go up. That’s the ideal, but leadership is going to authoritate in such a manner to ensure their understanding of that phrase is steadfast. Or, search me, try me, in me, focus goes to individuality. We hear Be not drunk with wine wherein of excess but be filled with the Holy Spirit, as me-directed. Call it Christian media be it a congregation or media evangelism. They’ll know we are Christians by are love means give to this drive or that cause so …. no longer is hungry or suffering.
I once heard Jay Vernon McGee, Bible Teacher, make the comment that two of the most divisive issues in Christianity are over communion and baptism. That is where we get into defining unity as identity. Or, Club carrying membership requirements. Finally, I like the collective thinking each has shared here to contribute toward the wholesomeness YHVH has for all of us! Perhaps working for unity in significant relationships before the fellowship is the basis on which to start. After all, until the Serpent came along Adam and Eve had each other and YHVH.
David R
David R
TRANSPARENCY! Is a necessity in ALL sound, real relationships! NO hiding, NO excuses, NO justifying, NO craftiness, NO agendas, but honest dealings, please! So appreciate that. This is saintly / renewed / transformed nature. ABBA help us! Help us stay under Your anointing, please! Amein!
1 Cor 12:27 = One anointed Body united in their individual functions working together for the good / building / strengthening of one another in the Family/Kingdom of יְהֹוָה
WE do not abandon our individual personalities, nor giftings, but work towards a common goal of serving and lifting up יְהֹוָה ‘s Name / character and integrity.
The Bride IS Israel, NOT the Church of denominations/non-denominations, not the Body of believers in Messiah rooted in a Hellenistic paradigm.
Exo 19:5 “And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine –
Exo 19:6 – and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.” Those are the words which you are to SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF YISRAEL.
The Body of Messiah is ONLY a part of the Bride, having been grafted into the nation of Israel, UNTIL / UNLESS they strive to be SAINTS /kadosim, keeping ALL of יְהֹוָה ‘s commandments, Shabbat, Feasts / Appointed Times, Dietary laws, forsaking profanities of pride / boasting, injustice, idolatry; being clothed in righteousness, set-apart /anointed by the Ruach, from the ways of the old nature and the world.
Hebrews 8:6- 7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second one.
8 Finding fault with THEM He said, “The time is coming, says יְהֹוָה , when I’ll enact a New marriage Covenant בְּרִית with the ‘household’ of Israel and with the ‘household’ of Judah.
בְּרִית / covenant (agreement, pledge (man to man),alliance (of friendship),
alliance (of marriage)
Paul explained that the “Old” and “New” covenants were “symbolic” marriage covenants, the first like a “bondwoman” and the other like a “freewoman”.
שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲלֹ֗ות לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הִנֵּ֣ה מַה־֭טֹּוב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד׃ Psalm 133:1
…. together as ONE / yachad יַחַד
Bondwoman – One already in covenant or enslaved?
Freewoman – One willing going into a covenant?
Interest reference Ester.
Could this mean that we can either be in a covenant or forced to follow a covenant of someone else as that is what happened in the reference that Paul used…
Could this also be why we so easily follow this or that indoctrination or view as we find some sort of comfort in being part of or submitting to another’s understanding for then if they are wrong then I have someone to blame… Not accepting the covenant is a personal responsibility but trusting it is a general agreement…
Something like the five unwise maidens…
Skip, please help me understand the difference between ‘arom and ‘arum. Is this accurate >>> ‘Arom means to be transparent. ‘Arum means to appear transparent, but in reality is deceptive. ‘Arom is to be transparent; ‘arum is deceptive (faking transparency).
And then ‘erom in Genesis 3:7 is a form of nakedness, meaning exposed or laid bare?
Thank you
It’s not quite that simple. The Hebrew consonants are the same, as you know. But the difference in vowel pointing shows up in the context. This implies that the serpent appears to be transparent (same root word) but the context shows he isn’t, so the meaning changes because of the contextual difference. Note this: (ʿārôm). Naked. (ASV and RSV similar.) This word is either derived from ʿûr II, “be exposed” and thus would be a secondary form of ʿêrōm “naked” or it is from the root ʿārâ “be naked” (q.v.), probably a by-form.
Schultz, C. (1999). 1588 עוּר. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (656). Chicago: Moody Press.
Thank you, Skip. In terms of context I am viewing spiritual nakedness three ways:
1) Exposure – Adam’s disobedience is exposed; he is naked because he didn’t trust God–he defied the command of the Creator to pursue and possess knowledge apart from Him, and thus breaking connection, relationship. Adam didn’t run to God to reconcile, his evil conscience led him to condemnation and the former transparency and intimacy (fully known, fully loved) is stolen, killed, destroyed.
2) Lack – Adam is naked because he lacks (wisdom, understanding, loving trust and relationship with God). In addition, in light of new knowledge, Adam has now formed false beliefs about his identity because he has judged himself to be lacking power, wisdom, compassion, abilities, qualities, etc. The truth is, he is designed perfectly, and perfectly designed to rely and depend on God, and to grow in loving relationship with God.
3) Vulnerabilty – Adam is naked because he was unable to protect himself from deception–he is vulnerable and afraid and is now hyper-focused on covering his shame (cover, hide, blame).
But God…
I’m trying to learn and gain understanding here, so any feedback is helpful.