Read Genesis 3:7-13. Why did Adam and Eve feel the need to hide before God? Why did God ask the question “Where are you?” How did Adam and Eve seek to justify their behavior?
After they sinned, Adam and Eve felt naked because they lost their garments of glory, which reflected God’s presence (see Psalm 8:5, compare with Psalm 104:1-2). The image of God had been affected by sin. The verb “make” in the phrase they “made themselves coverings” (Genesis 3:7, NKJV) was so far applied only to God the Creator (Genesis 1:7, Genesis 1:16, Genesis 1:25, etc.). It is as if they replaced the Creator as they attempted to cover their sin, an act that Paul denounces as righteousness by works (Galatians 2:16).
Image © Krieg Barrie at Goodsalt.com
When God approaches, He asks them the rhetorical question “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9, NKJV), the same kind of question that God will ask Cain (Genesis 4:9). Of course, God knew the answers to the questions. His questions were asked for the benefit of the guilty, to help them realize what they have done and yet, at the same time, to lead them to repentance and salvation. From the moment humans sinned, the Lord was working for their salvation and redemption.
In fact, the whole scenario reflects the idea of the investigative judgment, which begins with the judge, who interrogates the culprit (Genesis 3:9) in order to prepare him for the sentence (Genesis 3:14-19). But He does it also to prompt repentance, which will ultimately lead to salvation (Genesis 3:15). This is a motif seen all through the Bible.
At first, as so common with sinners, Adam and Eve both try to evade the charge, seeking to blame others. To God’s question Adam responds that it was the woman whom God had given to him (Genesis 3:12) — she led him to do it. It was her fault (and, implied, it was God’s as well), not his.
Eve responds that it was the serpent who deceived her. The Hebrew verb nasha’, “deceive” (in Genesis 3:13, NKJV), means to give people false hopes and makes them believe that they are doing the right thing (2 Kings 19:10, Isaiah 37:10, Jeremiah 49:16).
Adam blames the woman, saying that she gave him the fruit (some truth to this), and Eve blames the serpent, saying he deceived her (some truth to this, too). But in the end, they both were guilty.
| Trying to blame someone else for what they have done? Why is it so easy for us to fall into the same trap? |
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