Genesis 3:8-13

Good morning, all!

Today we read the verses that show us a typical response to being confronted with our sin: hiding and blaming others! As soon as Adam and Eve realized what they had done, they attempted to cover themselves. When they heard God coming, they hid from Him! As if we can hide from Him! :) When we are not walking with the LORD, or when we have blatantly disobeyed, we may stop going to church or stop hanging out with other Christians, because being around them reminds us of our sin. We stop praying and stop reading His Word, because it convicts us. We become miserable! John tells us in his first letter that if we just confess our sin, He is faithful and just and will will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9). It's too easy! We prefer to either punish ourselves (which leads to depression) or, more likely, justify ourselves. This is what Adam and Eve did.

Notice that when they are hiding, God sought them out! We should never forget that God is the initiator of our relationship with Him. In 1 John 4:10, we're told "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Then, in verse 19 John writes, "We love because he first loved us." He started it! Because of His great love, we should freely come to Him, when we've failed, to received the abundant grace He wants to pour out on us. We do not need to make excuses or hide like the little child caught in a lie. John wrote in I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in fear." Have you noticed that children who fear berating or harsh punishment tend to lie and cover up, rather than taking responsibility for their sin? If you know that you will receive grace, you are more likely to fess up.

God promises that we can freely come - and here, in Genesis 3:9, He calls out to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" When He confronts them with their sin (because He will not ignore it - notice He doesn't say, "No big deal, guys!"), Adam immediately blames both Eve and God for his falling: "The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." When God turns to Eve, she blames the serpent for deceiving her. We will go to great lengths to lay blame on everyone else, won't we???? We can find a million ways to justify our bad temper or our gossip or our drinking or any number of things we know we shouldn't be doing: "I've had a horrible day!"; "If you just wouldn't put your clothes on the floor!" "I need a drink after that meeting!"; etc.

The good news? Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Hallelujah! We do not have to clean up our act before we face God. He foresaw our sin and provided for it. He loves us no matter what. Because His love is constant and unconditional and a sure trait of His character, it does not change depending on our behavior - whether good or bad behavior. We can't make Him love us more or love us less - He loves no matter what! But, because He loves, He requires confession and repentance, and He disciplines us in order to make us more Christ-like. We don't take the penalty for our sin, thanks to Christ, but we do suffer consequences. More about those tomorrow!

Would love to hear your take on this...