In Gen 3:7-13, we will study what happened to Adam and Eve when they saw their nakedness, after eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
When Adam and Eve didn’t know they were naked, they were not ashamed, Gen 2:25. They were like little kids. But once they had the knowledge of good and evil, see Deut 1:29, they covered themselves.
They attempted to cover their nakedness
Fig leaves or any covering of man would never be sufficient to cover the nakedness that resulted from sin. That’s because the nakedness is not just fleshly but something spiritual.
Therefore, in Gen 3:21, God had to make coats of skins to clothe them. In 2 Cor 5:1-4, we will be clothed upon with our heavenly hose. The Laodiceans didn’t know they were naked in Rev 3:17-18. They needed God to supply them with white raiment to clothe them, “that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear”. Thus, what we experience as a result of Adam’s sin is not just a physical nakedness but a spiritual one, as well.
Interesting note: Pharisees will adorn their outward appearance to portray righteousness, Matt 23:25-28. But their righteousness is like Is 64:6. This can be a problem with fundamentalists. Some believe that if they get the clothing right they’ll be right on the inside, too. Not so.
Interesting note: the wild man in the Gadarenes who was possessed with devils was naked. But after Jesus cast the devils out of him, he was clothed and in his right mind. We need God to provide the covering to properly clothe us.
They attempted to hide from God
They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden. Note: at some point every sinner on earth hears the voice of the Lord, Rom 10:17-18, Ps 19:1-4.
And sinners will do what Adam and his wife did. They hid themselves from the presence of the Lord, Is 29:15, Jn 3:19-20. This is the typical response of sinners. People always hide to avoid being caught when they first sin.
They hid amongst the trees of the garden. Men are likened to trees in Jud 9:7-15; Mk 8:24. It is common for sinners to hide themselves among other sinners. When you mention to them that they have sinned, they will say, “Yeah, well we have all sinned”. They’ll attend any church that doesn’t preach against their sins or their nakedness before God.
God asked, “Where art thou”? God knew. He waited for Adam to answer. It’s good for a man to evaluate where he is with God.
Adam gave account of himself to God
I heard thy voice and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself. When standing before God, you’re going to tell the truth about yourself, Rom 14:11-12. Adam was afraid because he had something to hide. You can’t hide from God, Heb 4:13. Num 32:23, your sin will find you out. The covering you wear only hides you from the eyes of men.
They attempted to transfer the blame
God asked, “Who told thee that thou wast naked”? No answer. The God asked, “Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat”? That’s the problem, disobedience.
Adam blamed God. He said, “the woman that thou gavest me”. That is, if you hadn’t given me this woman, I would have never eaten that fruit. Then he blamed Eve for his sin. The right answer is, after these excuses, “I did eat”.
Then God asked Eve, “What is this that thou hast done”? So, Eve blamed the serpent for her sin. She said, “The serpent beguiled me”, 2 Cor 11:3, 1 Tim 2:14. “And I did eat”. Either way, you are responsible when you are deceived. The serpent still deceives, Rev 12:9. The worst deception is still to come, 2 Thes 2:10-12. We must love the truth and obey God.
Today, men blame their sinful behavior on the Devil, the people that raised them, their friends, or God, Rom 9:20. They won’t take the blame themselves. Yet, not until they repent and accept the blame for their sin do they get it right, Ps 51:4.
Nothing’s changed in 6,000 years of human history.