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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Genesis 3:11
Comments
Adam is questioned first as the one chiefly responsible for the conduct of both of them. God does not deny that Adam and Eve were naked, but presses upon them the real cause of their shame. No one had told them that they were naked other than their own consciences. This knowledge could only have come about as a result of sin. God’s question forces Adam to look further. He had not told Adam previously about this particular consequence of his disobedience, but he must surely have understood where it came from. He sees that God is not content with his answer, that his naked state is not sufficient to explain his new fear of God’s presence. The reason he gives for his fear seems to find fault with his Creator for creating him naked. It was as if he had been considering the state in which he had been made and now realised he was not able to approach God in that state. So he blamed God for making him that way.‘Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?’ The question makes clear to Adam that he cannot remain hidden.
Application
The immediate effect of sin is that human beings cover themselves with a web of deceit. We attempt to hide from the eyes of the Lord, but we also seek relief from our own consciences and so we wish to deceive ourselves as well, and God must strip bear this deception before we are ready to have any honest dealing with him. God draws him to repentance, but he will not repent. God invites him to state his case, and to plead for forgiveness or for mercy, but he will not do it. The man who was a perfect man is now corrupted and tainted.
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