A great writeup, very thought-provoking about a unique situation in which we feel shame. It's also not easy to take truly honest look at yourself and realize how much man's opinions (or even our assumptions of other's opinions!) shape our behavior and how we present ourselves.
On the scripture-side, my over active brain goes two ways:
What do you think about Adam's experience of shame in Genesis 3? Maybe it doesn't fit your situation as well, but would your writeup have a different conclusion if that was the example instead of Moses?
-and-
What do you think about Moses's later experience of God in Exodus 33? ("I will put you in the cleft of the rock... you shall see my back, but my Face will not be seen.")
Hey Samuel! Thanks for reading and for your questions. I’d have to do a little more thoughtful reading and work to respond to Exodus 33 specifically, but for now I can answer for Genesis 3, that I would see that situation as very similar to Moses. Notice Adam and Eve cover themselves with fig leaves, similar to how Moses covered his face. There is an inherent sense of shame in our humanness because of sin. Their attempt to clothe themselves was feeble, but was the best they could do to hide themselves. Notice also, God gives them new coverings. The whole story of shame had not yet been dealt with but God’s grace still proved a covering for their shame. Hope that answers your question!
Right, there is a sense of shame that came from the knowledge of sin. In a way, that shame was right? I could see how Moses's hiding of his face is similar, as he too had to acknowledge he was a sinful man when he came into the presence of real holiness. Yet as you point out, the command for Moses was to remove his sandals. And the solution for Adam and Eve was being clothed by God (with animal skins, no less), as opposed to their own feeble efforts of sewing fig leaves for themselves!
That leads me to the (mostly self directed) question: what are our personal fig leaves we sew, in replacement for the regret that leads to repentance?
Absolutely agree that we all have personal "fig leaves" that are our sad attempts to cover up our shame instead of receiving what God wants to clothe us in. As to the first part of what you say here about shame coming from the knowledge of sin, I'd also agree that shame is connected to sin and being aware of an aspect of our sinfulness or "limitedness." I think the distinction I would like to make is in asking the question "what do we do with the shame?" Do we hide like Adam, Eve and Moses did? Or do we step towards God and let him guide us and clothe us.
A great writeup, very thought-provoking about a unique situation in which we feel shame. It's also not easy to take truly honest look at yourself and realize how much man's opinions (or even our assumptions of other's opinions!) shape our behavior and how we present ourselves.
On the scripture-side, my over active brain goes two ways:
What do you think about Adam's experience of shame in Genesis 3? Maybe it doesn't fit your situation as well, but would your writeup have a different conclusion if that was the example instead of Moses?
-and-
What do you think about Moses's later experience of God in Exodus 33? ("I will put you in the cleft of the rock... you shall see my back, but my Face will not be seen.")
Hey Samuel! Thanks for reading and for your questions. I’d have to do a little more thoughtful reading and work to respond to Exodus 33 specifically, but for now I can answer for Genesis 3, that I would see that situation as very similar to Moses. Notice Adam and Eve cover themselves with fig leaves, similar to how Moses covered his face. There is an inherent sense of shame in our humanness because of sin. Their attempt to clothe themselves was feeble, but was the best they could do to hide themselves. Notice also, God gives them new coverings. The whole story of shame had not yet been dealt with but God’s grace still proved a covering for their shame. Hope that answers your question!
Right, there is a sense of shame that came from the knowledge of sin. In a way, that shame was right? I could see how Moses's hiding of his face is similar, as he too had to acknowledge he was a sinful man when he came into the presence of real holiness. Yet as you point out, the command for Moses was to remove his sandals. And the solution for Adam and Eve was being clothed by God (with animal skins, no less), as opposed to their own feeble efforts of sewing fig leaves for themselves!
That leads me to the (mostly self directed) question: what are our personal fig leaves we sew, in replacement for the regret that leads to repentance?
Absolutely agree that we all have personal "fig leaves" that are our sad attempts to cover up our shame instead of receiving what God wants to clothe us in. As to the first part of what you say here about shame coming from the knowledge of sin, I'd also agree that shame is connected to sin and being aware of an aspect of our sinfulness or "limitedness." I think the distinction I would like to make is in asking the question "what do we do with the shame?" Do we hide like Adam, Eve and Moses did? Or do we step towards God and let him guide us and clothe us.