QT 7/18/2025 Gen 3:8-13, Failures versus sin

Genesis 3:8–13 (ESV) —

8 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. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 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.”

 

NOTE: I don't know where I heard this, maybe I made it up, but I have a saying, "When God asks a question, it is not because he needs information." Why is it that God asks questions that he already knows the answer? And why does God have Moses record these obvious questions and answers. I think it was very important for both Adam and Eve to hear the questions and for each to speak aloud. I don't think they understood the significance of the question until much later, such as, why did God ask me where I am? It is interesting question. They are hiding from their creator because …. They would then realize that their actions had separated them from God. They were hiding from God, God was not hiding from them. Even the sound of the good and gracious God scared them. Why? Because they had disobeyed God, and they certainly remembered the warning, "you would die." They did die that day spiritually. The physical body also started to die without access to the tree of life.

 

Man was guilty. He knew God's command. That is why God addresses him first. The woman was deceived by the serpent. She knew something of God's command from Adam, but she was still fooled.

 

The sin was the breaking of God's command regarding the fruit. But there were also failures. Adam had a series of failures, his rewording of the command, his failure to intervene, and his failure to correct the serpent. One can fail without sinning. But failure can create situations where sin is helped along. A failure to challenge someone who appears to be heading in the wrong direction, while difficult could be deadly to the individual.

 

PONDER:

1. Where do I fail in my role as a father, husband, and spiritual mentor to men?
2. What can I do to be more upfront and honest in my interactions with people?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see the balance between challenging someone and dealing with people gently. Help me to challenge gently but honestly. Help me to see the situations where I need to say something.