Shameless

"The two of them, the man and his wife, were naked, but they felt no shame." (Geneses 2:25, The Message).

Have you ever had one of those naked dreams? You know, the one where you're sitting in a public place, say an office or a classroom or a park bench, and you realize all of the sudden that you're in the buff? It's the exact opposite of those cool flying dreams. You wake up from the naked dream in a bit of a cold sweat of embarrassment. You wake up from the flying dream wishing you could go back to sleep and get back into that dream. If you have a dream where you are flying naked, well, not sure how I would suggest that might make you feel!

Nakedness is dealt with vastly differently between where we live in the United States versus other parts of the world. Really, even here it's a strange thing. We value covering up parts of our bodies. However, due to the constant barrage of sexuality we are subjected to (through the media and in fashion), even the North American standards for dress and "covering up" have been confused. The display of a woman's breasts, for example, is considered a taboo and sexual thing for almost everyone here (and even if one feels differently about this they still cover up for the most part in front of others). But a lot of us look at low-cut blouses as being provocative. Whole movements exist to back up a woman's right to nurse her baby wherever it is needed without having to find a dingy corner to hide in. Really, if our twisted views of the human body and sexuality were not at play here, you wouldn't even hear about women petitioning restaurants over the waiter that was rude to the nursing mother.

I think that we, as 21st century North Americans, read Genesis 2:25 and it shocks us a little. We even hear the word "naked" and a classroom of unruly teenagers becomes silent and focused! Obviously it was a bit of a shock word to Moses and the Israelites as well (otherwise what is the point of Moses even including this verse?).

But to Adam and Eve? Not even an issue. I feel like the context of this verse gives us a clue. When Eve was created, from Adam's rib (Genesis 2:21-22), and presented to Adam, what were his first words? "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh!" (Genesis 2:23, The Message).  I really like the way Eugene Peterson puts this: "Finally!" Adam had named the animals God created. He had seen incredible works of God's creation. But Adam had "no suitable helper/companion" (verse 20). That assumes that the other animals had one. It's reading between the lines a bit, but it seems like Adam noticed that the animals had companions. Thus he was looking for one for himself that would be suitable, one that wasn't like another animal that he was naming but one compatible with himself.
And then, "Finally!" one came. He was asleep, woke up, and viola! God brought him a woman that was made of the same stuff as he in an amazing, beautiful gift. Relief and joy rolled up into one brief passage.

They felt no shame over their nakedness. They didn't think of their nakedness as an evil or shameful thing. They didn't even know what evil was yet. It is a picture of innocent bliss, happiness, and discovery.

Little children, before a certain age, will strip down without a thought or care as to who sees them. I wonder if this isn't another reason God loves children so much. They don't even think about that stuff, and in not caring they act more like He might remember the first humans acting before they ate the forbidden fruit, with simple joy and innocence.

As I read the creation story again, I am struck by how much better God's plan is for me than anything else going. What does He desire for me? A life of joy, of happiness, of discovery, and of innocence. A life that doesn't include sin and what that has done to my perceptions and attitudes. I am grateful that such a life awaits me. The story reminds me of how much better life will be in His kingdom. If you want to know what heaven will be like, go back to the beginning!

There is ONE in charge...

Do you ever wonder who is really in charge?

I've been around a lot of creative people in my lifetime, people with big ideas, fun ideas, ideas that seem like they'd be incredible (on paper at least). You know where a lot of big ideas find their downfall?

No one is in charge. Or the wrong person is in charge. This could be someone who thinks they're in charge and is driving everyone nuts asserting so-called authority.

Such seems to be the case with a character in Daniel, a book of the Prophets that I'm starting to study in the Bible: Nebuchadnezzar. In his world, he was in charge, a position he thought was well-protected by his god.

I started studying just the first two verses in Daniel 1. Nebuchadnezzar's name means, "Nebo (or Nabu), protect my territory (or crown)," or "Nebo, protect your servant." Nabu was the Babylonian patron god of wisdom and writing. He was their god of revelation, the son of their primary god, Marduk (although Nabu appeared to be more popular than Marduk at this time). Nabu was the keeper of the "tablets of destiny," in which the fate of mankind was supposedly recorded. It's interesting that his name means "Speaking," and he was purportedly married to a goddess named Tashmetum, which means "listening. So, men, if you think it's your place to speak and your wife's place to listen, consider which god your copying!

We find references to Nabu in popular culture today. "Dr. Fate," from DC Comics, received his superpowers from the mythological figure named Nabu. I have not personally verified this with George Lucas, but there are some who think he got the idea for the planet "Naboo" (from the Star Wars movies) from this same god.

When you compare the names of two kings in Daniel 1:1-2, it gives some pretty good context to the rest of the book. Jehoiakim's (king of Judah) name means "Yahweh (YHWH) raised up." Israel was, at one time, a kingdom to be reckoned with. They had the reputation of the ones who cast off Egyptian dominance and enslavement, made their way (circuitously) to Palestine, and established a dominant kingdom of their own. They subjugated or destroyed kingdoms that stood in their way. They were a feared nation (that was supposed to, one day, be a blessing, according to Genesis 12). So "YHWH raised up" vs. "Nabu, protect my crown" makes for an interesting battle when history is accounted for.

Daniel 1:2 tells us that the Lord ("adonai," master/lord) gave Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. The Lord also gave articles of the Temple over into Nebuchadnezzar's hand, which were taken to the treasure house of Nebuchadnezzar's god (presumably Nabu). From Nebuchadnezzar's perspective, it would seem that Nabu was the superior god. But Daniel offers a different perspective.

Some scholars point out that the way Daniel wrote the Babylonian king's name communicates something to his readers. His recording of the name could also be translated, "Nabu" (wisdom), "kad" (jar), "nasar" (preserve, keep watch, or watchman). Wisdom Jar Watchman. Hmm... A jar was something that took a lot of work and care by the jar maker. Later in Daniel 1, what gifts would God give to Daniel. Wisdom. Knowledge. Learning. The ability to interpret dreams and visions. Could it be that the name, biblically, could mean something else? God was working hard and caring for Daniel and his three friends. Could it mean, biblically, that Daniel's God was at work, that "wisdom is a preserving/watching-over vessel/jar"? That may seem a bit confusing, but considering what Daniel was--a prophet gifted by God with wisdom and understanding--and that His wisdom alone would preserve His people... It becomes a pretty compelling name!

Furthermore, while Nebuchadnezzar thought his god was in charge, Daniel clearly presents another idea. He says the Lord gave Jehoiakim and the articles into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. This use of "gave" is, in Hebrew, a word that indicates that something happened in the past through a process. The process used was the siege of Jerusalem and the taking of the king and the people and the articles to Babylon. The end goal of the process? I think it was that God will preserve His people, His message, and His purpose!

Nebuchadnezzar thought that his god was in charge. There will be other instances of this kind of thinking later on. But here's the truth: he wasn't! God was!

There have been plenty of times when leaders have made tragic decisions, choices that have cost others dearly. This is part of life. People, when in charge, will always think more highly of themselves than they ought. They will do things without thinking through the consequences others will have to suffer, or they just don't care. They will make decisions you will not agree with.

"But guess what?" Daniel might say. "God alone is in charge! And He will work through whatever circumstances you are facing to bring about the result He wants, the best result there is! And He will preserve you for the life you were meant for, and a life for Him forever!"

• How have you seen God leading in your life through difficult circumstances?
• What has been the proof to you that God is in charge?
• How does this help you fall more in love with God?
• What else is God teaching you these days? How are you responding?