Then the eyes of both (Adam and Eve) were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed (twisted) fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. He (God) said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
Genesis 3:7&11 (ESV)
While binge-watching a TV series this summer, I noticed that the scriptwriter depended on bad choices and foolish behavior to drive the plot lines forward. Many of the characters started out naïve and innocent only to make one bad choice after another leading them down a path of cringe-worthy shame.
In Genesis, the book of beginnings, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and their eyes were opened. We know from 1 Timothy 2:14 that Adam was accountable, knowing what he was doing, while Eve was deceived. However, after the Fall they both had knowledge of good and evil which gave them more choices—and many more opportunities to make tragic mistakes.
Instead of becoming like God, they became painfully conscious that they were naked. That is, they became aware they could not hide their new best friends—guilt and shame—from their Creator. So they covered themselves with the largest leaves available—fig leaves—and the first effects of death—separation from God—became evident. Sin had broken Adam and Eve’s fellowship with God, and their guilty consciences and tremendous shame caused them to run and hide among the trees of the Garden of Eden.
God’s response to Adam and Eve was to make garments of skins which were a better covering than the fig leaves they had twisted together. This God-given covering revealed His provision for their guilty shame and His acceptance of them. God’s response also foreshadowed future animal sacrifices and eventually, the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, in which His life-blood was given in satisfaction for sin.
We can be sure that God knew what Adam and Eve had done for He is omniscient (all-knowing), but He still wanted them to confess, so He called out to Adam. Adam’s reply shows that sin and guilt bring fear and shame. Again, God questioned Adam, demanding a confession of his guilt and the blame game began.
The only way to deal with shame-producing choices is to reach out to God and confess them—calling them as He calls them—sin—for in His presence, our shame is washed away!