Our first parents, Adam and Eve, lived in the Garden of Eden, filled with flowing rivers and lush plants and trees. But was there something to fear in the garden?
Terror in the Garden
"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 (Genesis 3:8 ESV)."
The description, 'the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day,' was probably a sign there was nothing unusual about the day (other than Adam and Eve's sin), nor was there any indication the Lord was angry. Since Scripture didn't say the Lord was trampling instead of walking in the garden and in the heat rather than the cool of the day, I picture Adam and Eve hearing the Lord's usual sound. However, it became a dreadful noise the day they ate the forbidden fruit. Suspecting the Lord was aware of their disobedience, Adam and his wife hid amongst trees. They grew terrified at the mere sound of God.
God Goes After Adam
But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you (Genesis 3:9 ESV)?"
God doesn't ask Adam’s whereabouts because his location is unknown. God knew he had separated from Him. Adam believed he was hiding, but the Lord knew he was lost. God went to meet Adam where he was at.
Adam Retreats
He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked (Genesis 3:10 NLT)."
In other words, Adam states, "I heard You walking in the garden, so I hid because I was exposed and afraid you'd find me guilty of sin."
Adam and Eve were always unclothed. Yet, Adam stated he withdrew because he was naked. His lack of clothing wasn’t the issue. It was the realization he was naked, as it showed the presence of sin in his life. He was innocent and unaware of being bare when he lived free of wrongdoing, as there was no sin to be embarrassed by. The exposed feeling prompting him to hide amongst trees resulted from the guilt and shame accompanying sin and the fear of punishment.
God disapproved of Adam and Eve's disobedience, and they were subject to judgment, but their sin wasn't enough for God to abandon or bring them to destruction.
The Lord wants to be in fellowship with His creation. Adam and Eve grew afraid of God, which wasn't the fear the Lord desired they possess, for it caused them to retreat as if He were the enemy and to cut themselves off from Him. God prefers our fear be of reverence, which is the fear that keeps us from sinning and leads us to repentance when we do (sin).
Their fear led to an illogical reaction. Hiding behind trees was folly on their part, for the Lord, is omniscient and omnipresent. That is, He's everywhere at once and knows all things. Thus, it's futile even to conceal transgressions within the heart.
The Deadly Tree
He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat (Genesis 3:11 ESV)?”
By asking the above (rhetorical) questions, God hints no one needed to tell Adam he was naked. For Adam to feel naked, sin must've been present in his life. He could only be aware of that sin by knowing good and evil. The only way to know good and evil was to have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Indeed, the tree was deadly, but obedience to God's command would've saved Adam and his wife from spiritual death.
Something to Fear
The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it (Genesis 3:12 CSB).”
God first expects Adam, not Eve, to explain their disobedience because the Lord placed Adam in charge. He gave Eve as a helper and wife, so it was her husband’s duty to lead and protect her in her roles.
However, in his reply, Adam described Eve as 'the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit.' Still, she was 'the woman God gave as his helper/wife for whom he was responsible.' Put in charge, Adam responded as if the circumstances were beyond his control. Yet, he'd exercised free will whenever he consumed the fruit.
His statement inferred the incident wouldn't have occurred had God not created Eve as his helper/wife. After all, it was the Lord who'd given Eve to him, and it was Eve who'd given him the fruit. The reasons for his actions were simple: God made her for him. She gave him the fruit. Thus, he ate. Adam made it all sound like a simple matter, but his disobedience added a layer of complexity that irrevocably altered God's plan for humanity. God gave Eve as a helper. Adam allowed her to become a hindrance by exalting her over God.
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 3:13 ESV).”
Eve was required to explain herself but defended herself instead. Like Adam, she bears no responsibility for her actions. Eve blamed the serpent, implying that had it not deceived her, she wouldn't have consumed the fruit. This meant she only ate the fruit because of the serpent. But Eve made a choice and exalted the serpent above God.
Although Eve may not have received God's command directly from Him not to eat from the tree, she knew God's word and was responsible for obeying it. Similarly to Adam, she answers, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate," but that was an inadequate explanation for God. The Lord made Eve Adam's helper to assist with keeping the garden and keeping him from the forbidden fruit.
Their responses in these situations show a lack of fear for God. In addition to disobeying His command, they failed to recognize His goodness and power by neglecting to confess their sins and repent to the Lord, who could extend mercy and judgment.
Conclusion
As majestic as the garden of Eden was, the Lord decided it was unwise for Adam to live in it alone, so He blessed him with a helper, Eve, purposed as his wife to care for and enjoy the garden. Along the way, however, they defied God, fear entered, and they hid.
Hide not from the Lord. Instead, seek his forgiveness because concealing transgressions in our hearts is as good as hiding behind a tree from God. Nothing is kept secret from the Lord; He knows where our hearts are. He's all-present—there to protect and strengthen us, not to bring us down.
God hates sin but loves His creation and doesn't want us to become so shameful and anxious over our wrongdoings that we separate from Him for one moment. God's greater than our worries; separation lends to brokenness when we're apart from God in a broken world.
We must develop reverential fear for the Lord—respect for His goodness and mighty power—as He created not only Adam, Eve, and the garden but the heavens, earth, seas, and everything in them (refer to Genesis 1; Psalms 146:6).
Therefore, we should humble ourselves before Him, confessing and repenting our sins without justification or blame so we're positioned to receive His mercy and grace.
Disclaimer: While this writing aims to reinforce the teachings found in the Scriptures and assist you in living a godly life, it is important to acknowledge that the Bible is the ultimate and primary source for all aspects of holy living, maturity, growth, fruitfulness, and more. The Bible contains everything necessary to achieve wholeness and be fully equipped for every good work. This secondary resource is only intended to supplement and support your understanding, providing additional insights for your journey.
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