So, too, then with Eve. No sooner had she eaten the forbidden fruit than she shared it with Adam 'who was with her’ (Genesis 3:6 New International Version). Adam was by Eve’s side, yet did nothing to dissuade her from loitering near the tree that contained such a strong temptation. He also did nothing to stop her taking fruit from it and eating it. If that wasn’t bad enough, he then accepted her offer and ate the fruit himself. Immediately, the pair experienced guilt for what the they had done.
Even if no one else knows what we have done, we can feel so bad about our wrongdoing that all we want to do is hide. Though our actions may be a secret, guilt can make us feel as as though everyone knows.
We feel shame and regret. We wish the ground would open up and swallow us. We cannot understand how we allowed ourselves to get into such a position. Oh, how we wish we could turn back the clock and do things differently!
Such thoughts were possibly in Adam and Eve’s minds after they had disobeyed God. Feeling the need to hide, they covered themselves with fig leaves (see 3:7). Whereas they had once felt safe and secure in God’s care, now they felt exposed and vulnerable. And there was a new element in their lives - they feared God (see 3:10).
God knew that there was only one reason for this change of attitude. He knew what they had done, but he still wanted to hear it from them. ‘Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?’, he asked (3:11).
When we get things wrong and feel as though we want to hide, God does not abandon us. He is still willing to speak to us. But he asks that we are honest that we have failed.
UK & Ireland War Cry August 2013
Library photos
