Sin: Hide and Blame

Genesis 3:8-24

Where do you go to hide from God? When you commit a grievous sin, when your failure weighs heavily, or when guilt and shame overwhelm you—where do you go to hide from God? 

When Adam and Eve sinned against God, their eyes were opened, and they sought cover. The innocence of their nakedness was gone, so they sewed fig leaves together to clothe themselves (Gen. 3:7). They concealed the parts of their bodies that God created for experiencing oneness, the very parts God designed for intimacy and vulnerability. 

Then they tried to hide from “the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Gen. 3:8). In the first sin, we see the pattern of all sins: We see. We want. We take. We hide. We will encounter that pattern throughout God’s story in God’s people, and we know it in our own lives. Our first parents taught us well. 

Adam and Eve had experienced open, intimate interaction with God. There had been no need for separation. But in the evening, after their disobedience, when they heard God walking in the garden, they hid. You can’t hide from God; however, he called to Adam, “Where are you?” It was a rhetorical question, better phrased as “Why are you hiding?” God knew the reason, but he wants us to own our sin. Adam replied, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself” (Gen. 3:10). 

God is all-knowing, yet he desires that we acknowledge where we are and why we are there. One can only imagine that God, Adam, and Eve had been meeting for some time, enjoying uninhibited conversation and fellowship in one another’s presence. But sin changed that. Adam’s rebellion made him aware of his nakedness, prompting fear and hiding. God called him out, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (Gen. 3:11). 

Notice Adam’s response to his sinful state. He said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12). Adam blames Eve, for sure, but he is really blaming God. He describes Eve as “the woman whom you gave to be with me.” In essence, Adam is telling God that Eve was all his idea! Eve was ready to pass along the blame as well. When questioned, she said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Gen. 3:13). Her reaction is to fault God for creating the animals. Not repentance, but fear and blame mark the first sinners’ responses. 

We have learned well from Adam and Eve, haven’t we? How many of us blame our sins on our parents, who either demanded too much or were never present? How many of us blame our sins on a spouse who we feel isn’t meeting our needs? How many of us blame our sins on friends, family, coworkers, or circumstances that enter our lives?  

Eve responded that the serpent deceived her. Satan still works to keep us from owning up to our sins. We like to place the responsibility for our rebellion on others. But the consequences God dispenses are clear evidence that he does not allow us to fault others or our emotional state for the sins we commit.  

The Consequences for the Woman
God graciously allowed Adam and Eve to have children, but the painful ordeal of childbirth would be a reminder of sin’s presence. God said to the woman, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children” (Gen. 3:16a). Also, the woman and the man would struggle for power in their relationship (Gen. 3:16b). This clash over who’s in charge is still the cause for much conflict in relationships today. 

The Consequences for the Man
Because Adam sinned by listening to Eve instead of God, man’s work and ability to survive would be difficult. God said, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life . . .  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground. . .” (Gen. 3:17-19). 

The gift of work was given before sin entered the world. As believers, we can find satisfaction in our work. However, even in the best-case scenario, the stress and challenges of work still wear us down. 

The Consequences for the Man and the Woman
God made clear that disobeying his command would result in death (Gen. 2:17). In Scripture, death signifies separation: physical—separation of body and soul, spiritual—separation from God, and eternal—separation from God forever. 

After their disobedience, Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, indicating their physical separation from God (Gen. 3:22-24). They also began the process of physical death. God said, “for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). One reason God put Adam and Eve out of the garden was “lest [they] reach out [their] hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Gen. 3:22). 

God graciously protects us from living forever in bodies that age and wear out. Can you imagine never dying in the bodies we have now? That would be cruel. Even in their disobedience, God provided for Adam and Eve. He stationed angels at the garden's entrance, wielding flaming swords, to ensure no one would live forever in a corrupted state. 

For certain, death is the penalty for sin. Yet in God’s perfect plan, death is a blessing because it disrobes us of our dying bodies and eventually clothes us with resurrected bodies that will live forever. 

Today, we have seen the consequences for Adam and Eve and the rest of humanity. But what about the one who deceived them in the first place? We will consider that next time. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Genesis 3:8-24.

Talking to God: When I face failure in my spiritual walk, do I take responsibility—or shift blame onto others or my circumstances? In what ways am I trying to hide from God?

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step.

SAVE THE DATE: Bible Immersion trip to Israel: November 4-14, 2026.