The word “Naked” is used 47 times in the Manual, from its first use in Genesis 2 until its last in Revelation 17. In every case, it means exactly what you think it means, “unclothed.” Well, in every case but two, and those two uses are contained in one sentence: “…when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)…” (Exodus 32:25) In this context, “Naked” comes from the Hebrew word “pâra‛” (paw-rah’). This “Naked” means “to expose, uncover, bare, dismiss, or go back…” In this case, there were not a half million Israelites standing around in the desert wearing only their birthday suits, they were Naked in a much more revealing way.
Earlier this week I posted a reminder about the study series that were posted on the P.O.C. website, among these being the R U series. Second in the series, “R U Wandering?” was prompted by this same group of people and the same issue. You can read it here: R U Wandering? .
The event we are discussing here pre-dates the one in the mentioned post and should have taught them (and us) what they needed to know to avoid the later event. What was the issue in both? Their Infidelity! Otherwise referred to as their Unbelief. Here, the Israelites had followed God under the guidance of Moses & Aaron out of captivity. In so doing, they stated their Belief, their Faith in God. When God called Moses up the mountain for a little private tutoring session that took 40 days, the Adversary’s favorite weapon – fear – set in. In response, they built an idol from their own possessions and with their own hands. Once displayed, this idol laid “bare” their Unbelief before the world. They had “dismissed” all that God had already done for them, saying, “What have you done for me lately?” to use a modern phrase. Doing this “uncovered” the fact that they had “gone back” to their Unbelief. The Truth was “exposed” for all the world to see before the very enemies God had defeated and freed them from.
When Moses returned and saw the “Naked” Truth, he said this, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!” Words Christ Himself would later use, teaching that a “house divided cannot stand,” “He that is not with me is against me…” Moses then ordered the Levites, who said they were on the Lord’s side, to go out with their swords and execute the Unbelievers’ choice: “…let every man kill his brother…companion, and…his neighbor.” Then Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.” This is also something Christ would later use as an instruction to those who would be His disciples: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
This ties into our discussion yesterday and way beyond. If you are “retiring” because being a teacher (pastor, preacher) for Christ is 24/7 and you need to “go back” from that to spend more time with your wife, your children, your grandchildren, etc., then you might be standing Naked. How is this any less a violation of Paul’s instruction to Timothy: “…refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith.”
Back to the rest of us. R U Naked? Does your life, your choices, your priorities reveal a dedication and relationship with Christ or something else? When the world around you looks, do they see your own personal golden calf or Christ? Do they see a True Believer or an Infidel? What we do, What we say, How we look, Who we hang around with, What makes the first “to do” in our to do list – each and all “Expose” who we really are and where our Faith really lies. Something we might… or should… consider as we prepare to enter a New Year: When we are “laid bare” before the world, what will they see…? Our God or our god?
Verses Referenced:
Genesis 2:25, Revelation 17:16, Exodus 32:25,26, Matthew 12:29,30, Matthew 10:37, 1 Timothy 5:11,12
© Scott A Caughel 12/28/2022