Genesis 3:8-13 – Cameron Jungles - Sun PM, Jan. 19, 2014

“Hiding from God” - Genesis 3:8-13 –

(Eastside Baptist/Sun PM/Jan. 19, 2014)

 

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Gen. 2:25, NIV)

 

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (Gen. 3:7, NIV)

 

1. Our natural inclination as sinful human beings is to hide from God, because we fear his judgment.

 

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. (Gen. 3:8, NIV)

 

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isa. 53:6, NIV)

 

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (Rom. 3:10-12, NIV)

 

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (Rom. 1:18, NIV)

 

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. (Rom. 1:25, NIV)

 

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. (Rom. 1:28, NIV)

 

2. When confronted by God’s restoring grace, we must confess instead of hiding and blaming others.

 

But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." (Gen. 3:9-10, NIV)

 

And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" (Gen. 3:11, NIV)

 

The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." (Gen. 3:12, NIV)

 

Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Gen. 3:13, NIV)

 

Main Idea: God graciously calls sinners to confess their sin, not to attempt to excuse themselves or shift blame.