And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:8-13
Can you remember a time when you were called out for a wrong you committed? Maybe you lied to someone. Perhaps you took something that wasn’t yours. Maybe you intentionally broke curfew and assumed your ninja skills would sneak you into the house undetected just to find a parent (or both) waiting for you in your room. Our instinct when we break a rule or command is to either cover it up, dismiss it, or hide from it. This behavior goes back to the Garden of Eden and the first sin.
Adam reveals something terrible has happened within one sentence in Genesis 3:10. He expresses emotions foreign to the Garden: fear, shame, and guilt. Eden was God’s paradise where He dwelled with His creation. These feelings had no place there until His command was broken.
Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan, and immediately fell prey to his evil mind game that suggested Adam and Eve could be their own gods. One bite later and the beautiful, perfect union between God and creation was shattered.
What stands out in this reading is God asking Adam, “Where are you?” I don’t think God is asking because He’s clueless like me scouring the house for my sunglasses because I can’t remember where I left them. This is a rhetorical question to Adam; similar to when a parent asks if you stayed out past your curfew (hint: they already know you did, so be honest about it). How can we be sure God knew? Jeremiah 23:24 reminds us that God fills heaven and earth, and no one can hide from him in secret.
The remarkable thing that happens is God does not destroy Adam and Eve. Yes, there are consequences for their sin (read Genesis 3:16-19) but that’s after God promises a savior in Genesis 3:15. That means there was hope given to Adam and Eve. It’s the same hope you and I live with today.
We can’t keep every command and rule placed upon us. That doesn’t mean we refuse to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us and provide us the strength we need to ENDURE and live a God-fearing life. What it means is when we are caught in our sin, we remember why God sent His Son, Jesus, to the world. Because Jesus lived a perfect life, was obedient in every way to the Father, died a death meant for us, and rose from the dead in victory, we do not have to fear losing the Father’s love. Jesus secured that love for us for eternity. We are quick to repent when we break a command because we long to be the proper reflection of God’s grace and mercy to those around us.
God’s plan for salvation ENDURED in Jesus our Savior and the promised Messiah, both to Adam and Eve and to those of us who eagerly await His return.
Journal Questions
- Do you find it easy to tell the truth when someone finds out about your mistake? Why or why not? How can trusting in the Holy Spirit help you to be honest?
- What hope do you find in confession and absolution of our sins? How can you share that hope with a friend who is struggling with past mistakes they’ve made?
Prayer
Merciful God, we praise You that even though we often turn away from Your commands that are meant to protect us, You still care for us. Thank You for showing us the depth of Your love in the death and resurrection of Jesus, who breaks us free from the chains of sin. Help us to live as Your people that our light would shine in the darkness and be a holy beacon to those seeking Your love. Amen.
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This devotion is part of a series and Bible study. Find the full study here.
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