And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 (NKJV)
After their disobedience we find Adam and Eve hiding from God. We also find them making coverings of fig leaves to conceal their nakedness (Genesis 3:7). We also find them blaming others for their sin (Genesis 3:12-14). Instead of throwing themselves on the mercy of God; they ran, they hid, and they denied. Why?
The first couple was perfect, living in a world where only selfless love dwelt. They loved each other and even more they loved God, daily welcoming His presence with joy. But now they ran and hid from Him, because their sin had changed them and changed their perception of God. Instead of seeing God as benevolent and loving, they now saw Him as a harsh judge, coming to punish. After all, God forewarned that if they ate from the tree of good and evil they would die (Genesis 2:17). They ate! Now they must have thought God was coming to kill them.
Due to sin, we are suspicious of God, thinking his motives are to do us harm. So we run! We run because of fear, guilt and shame. So we hide! We hope to cover our misdeeds and evade God. We hide by trying to shift the blame away from ourselves unto others. We hide anywhere we can: in clubs, in sporting events, in entertainment and the arts, in our daily work, in relationships, in drug houses and taverns. We can even hide in churches and in religion. We can try to cover our naked souls with fig leaves of good deeds. But none of these cover our sin! Adam and Eve were still naked!
Why did God come to the garden after they sinned? Did He come to condemn? No! He came to save! “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)
God came to cover their nakedness with animal skins (Genesis 3:21)? This showed a Saviour would be sacrificed for their sin, dying in their stead. Sin leads to pain, brokenness, separation, fear, guilt and death, whereas the gospel leads to love, life and liberty. The sacrificed animal pointed to the fact that God would send His Son to bear our sin and its penalty. Through Christ we have forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Our guilt is removed, our nakedness covered by His righteousness.
There are many ways to hide, but only one way to be found. Confess your sin and receive the salvation of God through Christ. Stop running! Stop hiding! God is love; He changes not (1John 4:8; Malachi 3:6). He comes not to harm, but to save.
