Genesis 3:8-10 – “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. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God, several things gripped my heart and invited me to examine them more fully.

In Genesis 3:8-19, we find the encounter with God after Adam and Eve’s rebellion.   Yes, I said rebellion and elevated their disobedience to more than a simple sanitized act of sin. It transformed the race and relationship with God.  It was a cosmic rebellion.   If we viewed sin that way, disobeying would become more difficult.

God asked Adam three questions.  God already knew the answer, but in His infinite grace, He was forcing Adam to face and acknowledge his rebellion.  The questions are foundations for redemption.

• Where are you?

Adam was hiding.  When sin enters our hearts, we tend to hide rather than ashamedly go to God in repentance.  We attempt to cover our shame with works and masks (fig leaves).

• Who told you?

Adam’s excuse was, “I’m naked, so in my shame, I hid.” We should ask ourselves, “Whose voice are we listening to?” Satan, self, or God (through the Holy Spirit and the Word).  It defines and determines our destiny.

• Did you eat from the tree I commanded you not to eat?

God is bringing it home and opening the door for repentance and restoration.

Sadly, Adam did what we tend to do, or we tend to do what Adam did.  He shifted the blame.  He blamed Eve (another person or circumstances), and then he blamed God.  “The woman You gave me!” Imagine blaming God!

Wait, isn’t that what people do all the time?   We offer excuses, saying, “If only…because…or something!”   It is my gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, education, etc.  I’m just the victim!   I’ve often wondered what God would have done had Adam simply said, “Lord, I’m guilty, I disobeyed, forgive me.”   Grace, as revealed in the New Covenant, reveals God’s heart to forgive and restore!  Denying sin and shifting the blame takes us deeper into darkness.

Eve did precisely the same as Adam.  “Don’t blame me; it was the snake!” You can even hear the inference, “Hey, God, the snake You created tricked me.  So, I’m not to blame You and the slithering snake are!”

God’s desire is restoration!  Our unconfessed sin blocks God’s forgiveness and enslaves us to the desires of the flesh.  Depravity of the heart produces pride and arrogance.   One translation of Genesis 4:1 reveals Eve’s self-justification and confidence in what the sneaky snake told her, “You shall be as God.”   When Cain was born, she said, “I have created a man just as God did!”

When man lost his innocence and became disobedient, he became compelled to find redemption in himself.  That imprisoned him to the desires of the flesh and stole from him God’s fullness.

Jesus came to restore us and give us the Kingdom.  He came to free us from the flesh and the devil.  He came to enable us to live in freedom.  If we are struggling with thoughts or actions, we can be free.   All we need is in Jesus.   

All He is available.   But we access that freedom ONLY in repentance.  We stand before God and say, “I’m guilty!”   In repentance, we become enabled to be and do what God desires.  Sin is not just a mistake or misstep.  It is rebellion!  Repentance is not saying, “I’m sorry,” it is doing a 180-degree turn.  It is allowing God to purge from us all elements of rebellion and restore us.  There is power in a transformed life that brings us God’s blessings and draws others to Jesus.

God has given us Freedom, so let’s be free by being honest with him and ourselves in everything!

May your day be filled with consciousness of the Presence of God!