Pentecost 3 (2)

(NIV): 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

(NIV)

Do you get many visitors at your home? It seems that this has become less and less frequent than in the past. This has become so apparent that even a new word was coined for this separation. It is called “Cocooning”.

Cocooning is staying inside one's home, insulated from perceived danger, instead of going out.[1][2][3] The term was coined in 1981 by Faith Popcorn, a trend forecaster and marketing consultant.[4] It is used in social science,[5][6] marketing,[7] parenting,[8][9] economic forecasting,[10] self-help,[11] religion,[12] and has become part of standard English as defined by multiple dictionaries.

Not only do we not get as many visitors as in the past, we ourselves are in the habit of not going out and visiting others ourselves. It is not like “the good old days”.

In the “good old days” a typical families weekend may look like this. Friday or Saturday night was spent interacting with neighbors and relatives in the rotating card club. Who of us looked forward to spending an enjoyable evening with these people as children while our parents played cards around the kitchen table exchanging jokes, have a refreshing beverage, and seeking to win the game? This doesn’t happen very much anymore. At District Convention one of the activities on Monday evening is getting into a game of Sheepshead enjoying tiger meat, a beverage and a smoke, and bantering each other as we played. Although there were 400 people at convention this week, only seven people played cards.

In the “good old days” Sunday afternoons were usually reserved for visiting relatives. Adult children brought their families to their parents and they visited while the children played with the few toys that grandpa and grandma had on hand.

Visiting in the “good old days” also involved more door to door salesmen, children raising funds for the latest band trip, the pastor stopping by to say “hello” or do discuss a concern he had with the member he was visiting.

But it is not the “good old days”. We have lapsed into “cocooning” in part because we can interact with people without leaving the house through social media and in part because of what the above article stated. “insulated from perceived danger”. We don’t go out because we feel threatened and at times when someone does come to see us, we may react as though we are threatened. I know that when the local police officer stopped by unannounced earlier this year, I answered the door with apprehension wondering either “What did I do wrong?” or “Who is in trouble?” Fortunately, it was neither of those things.

Why this talk about visiting others or simply cocooning? Well, I want to emphasize that even if we are visiting because we have done something wrong, if the one visiting us is here to help us, that person can restore us with God’s word. This is what happens in this very old story in the Bible which we believe is literally true.

We go back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve did not get many visitors. Why not? Well, they were the only people on earth so the neighbors were not going to stop in for a chat or some fresh produce from the garden. But they did get a visitor and he visited them (we assume) every day at about the same time. The Lord God would come walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Now here is an aside that should be explained. If you know someone is coming to visit you at a specific time, what do you wear? Probably season appropriate casual. Probably don’t answer the door in your PJ’s or lounge wear. Adam and Eve would normally have been naked. There is a correlation in the Bible between sinlessness and being naked. Those who are sinful cover themselves while those who are holy see no need. We recognize that though we are forgiven we are still sinners so we cover ourselves which is appropriate. Once we are in heaven and free from all sin there will be no need to be covered.

So early on, Adam and Eve, would have welcome the Lord God and conversed with him with no sense of shame even though they were naked.

But on this day, there was a noticable shift in their behavior. The Lord God came as usual. But unlike us who may not know what we are going to encounter when we pop in on someone, the Lord God (who is all knowing) knew exactly what he was walking into it. As a teaching point he still asks what is going on but it is to draw out a confession and to restore rather than the idea that he did not know.

So the Lord God comes to his beloved creatures. But instead of running to meet him, they are playing the first recorded game of “hide and seek”. The Lord God calls out, “Where are you?” (Even though he knew were they were.)

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Our text is about a visit that the Lord God made to Adam and Eve. So let’s begin by thinking about visiting people.

I don’t believe that people visit each other as they did in “the good old days”. Remember how in the past Friday or Saturday nights were spent visiting neighbors and friends to play cards or board games and to enjoy playing the games, the cheerful banter, and the refreshments? Sundays after church may have included going to the same family member’s home for a light brunch and conversation. Afternoons may have been spend visiting relatives or people in the hospital? PAUSE

It was not uncommon to have people show up at your doorstop unannounced for a variety of reasons. Welcome to the community. Borrow a cup of sugar. Sell a Kirby vacuum cleaner. Express concern you haven’t been in church for awhile.

But such visiting has become more and more uncommon and this has been going on for a long time. People are more prone to stay home (and therefore we have less visitors). This is known as cocooning. Surprisingly, this term was first coined in 1981.

Cocooning is staying inside one's home, insulated from perceived danger, instead of going out.[1][2][3] The term was coined in 1981 by Faith Popcorn, a trend forecaster and marketing consultant.[4] It is used in social science,[5][6] marketing,[7] parenting,[8][9] economic forecasting,[10] self-help,[11] religion.

It has become a form of self-protection. Those who are not visited may feel as though no one cares about them. The real reason may be that they are protecting themselves (right or wrong) from a perceived threat.

This happens sometimes when a person is in a nursing home. “No one comes to see me”, laments the elderly member of the family. “They don’t love me anymore.” or “They only come when they want money.” But when you talk to the one who does not visit, they may open confess that they are protecting themselves. “I want to remember mom or dad the way they were.” “It pains me to see them so weak and vulnerable.” These are real concerns but the effect is the same. People get neglected. We are neglected. Pain occurs and may even increase at same time we think we are avoiding pain.

Those who seek to avoid conflict and confrontation are more likely to be among those who avoid visiting others. It is what keeps us from speaking directly to people and following the command to speak directly to people. It is much more safe and comfortable to “cocoon” instead of to visit.

We need to review and learn from the Lord God; therefore, why it is still important to interact with each other even if it will involve some pain. This is one of the first interpersonal lessons learned in the Bible.

Did Adam and Eve ever get visited by their neighbors? Well, not at first. They had no neighbors or even children. But they were visited regularly. We assume this happened every day in the cool of the evening when the Lord God would come walking to them in the Garden.

Aside: If you know someone is coming to visit, you probably prepare for them by being properly dressed. (Sometimes someone may visit and we are in our lounge wear or less because we are cocooning and feel comfortable ‘in our own skin” as it were.)\

So it may come as a surprise that normally when the Lord God came to visit that Adam and Eve would have been naked and unashamed. There is a strong connection in the Bible between being holy and naked and sinful and covered.

But this day it was different. Instead of running out to meet the Lord God as excited children, spouses, and pets rush to see a family member come home, Adam and Eve are playing the first recorded game of hide and seek. Of course, God knew where they were. As Jeremiah would later write, God knows all and sees all.

(NIV): 23 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? 24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.

But rather than walk up to their hiding place, the Lord God calls for them. “Where are you?” Adam does answer with an explanation that God wasn’t buying and he should not have been selling, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Seems legitimate. If someone came to visit you and you weren’t properly attired for visitors, you might cover yourself too or even refuse to answer the door.

But Adam and Eve weren’t hiding because they were naked. They were hiding because they had sinned against God and they didn’t want to deal with the consequences. God knows this and asks a very revealing question, “Who told you that you were naked?” “Have you eaten from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?” And there it is. God confronted Adam and Eve for their sin.

It is uncomfortable to be confronted for our sins.

A popular dentist’s commercial on the radio is from a local office that promises that when you come to see them, they will not be judgmental. Why do the say that? Well, some dental issues are a direct result of poor choices we have made. Not brushing our teeth. Sipping soda all day. In some cases illegal drug use. Leaving small cavities grow into large one. We have done wrong and are suffering the consequences. The dentist may even have the right to condemn us for our actions. Being non judgmental means that although the dentist will point out our wrongs, he will work with us to correct not only our teeth but also our actions so the problems will not reoccur. But it is the fear of being judged (not the pain of the drill) which may keep us from visiting the dentist.

Well, the Lord God probably wasn’t concerned about Adam and Eve’s teeth or even their wardrobe on this day. He was concerned about their relationship with him which they had shattered by their sin. But rather than ignore it or spare them the pain of being reprimanded, he goes to them as was his custom and lovingly pointed out their sins.

Adam and Eve both responded in typical fashion. First they hid.

We may feel so ashamed of our own sins that we keep away from “holy places” and worship because we don’t feel worthy to be in the presence of a place of worship or that we will be judged. We may avoid certain people that we perceive as being judgmental because we think they will use our sins against us. We may even be like David later in the Bible who thought he could not only cover up his sins from the public but also from God. He would confess the consequences of this.

Psalm 32:1–5 NIV

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

When we sin against God we do well to confess our sins to him rather than hide from him.

Adam and Eve also played the “blame game”. Did you catch it? Adam accuses his wife and God. “The woman YOU PUT HERE with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” It may be interesting to note St. Paul’s later commentary on this.

1 Timothy 2:11–15 NIV

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 NIV

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

After Adam’s response, the Lord God turns to Eve. (NIV)

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Even blames the serpent. He did deceive her. But she also confesses the sin of not obeying God.

What follows are the pronouncements of consequences but also the first promise of the Savior from sin.

(NIV)

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

We see this fulfilled in Jesus Christ who crushed the power of Satan through his death on the cross.

What lessons does this very old historical event teach us?

Reminder that we do sin. It may be disobeying a direct command of God. It may be more concerned about our own safety than taking risks and getting out of our homes and our comfort zones to visit people. It may be mistaken priorities, blaming others for our problems, hiding from those who seek to help us, etc.

God seeks to restore us. He may not come to us directly but he does come to us through others and through his word. I hope you realize that God has spoken to us through his Word this morning. But you don’t have to come to church to have God speak to you. We don’t have to limit our interaction with God to just one hour of one day a week.

(NIV)

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

Psalm 119:10–16 NIV

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

God has forgiven us. Although Adam and Eve and all of their descendants will endure some form of hardship until all things are restored, God uses those to discipline us when necessary. Often times he does not treat us as our sins deserve. And although God would banish Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, he does not abandon his repentant children from his presence. In fact, he promises that one of the great blessings in this life is being his children and in eternal life being in his presence in heaven holy and unashamed. He even uses the picture of the other named tree in the Garden of Eden to describe this promise.

Revelation 22:12–14 NIV

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.