Genesis 3:8 Commentary and Bible Study

In the thick foliage, they hoped to conceal themselves, because they felt so guilty and corrupted through the fall. Such is the nature of conscience that it cannot be deceived by either self-justification, or denial of sin, or any attempt on our part to hide it. When Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden in the cool of the day – that is in the evening of the day they had sinned – they hid themselves, because their feeble attempts to hide their sin with leaves had not convinced them that they were fit to come before God. As Calvin says, ‘The eloquence, therefore, of the whole world will avail nothing to deliver those from condemnation, whose own conscience has become the judge to compel them to confess their fault.’ God of course knew what had taken place but he came as at other times in order to awaken Adams conscience so that the difference between former times of sweet fellowship and now should be apparent. There was no difference in how God came to them, and yet now their hearts condemn them without God saying a word of reproof to them. They are reminded by his presence of his intimate knowledge of all that they thought, said, and did.But where can they go? How can man successfully hide himself from his Creator, when the Lord seeks him out? God came to judge Adam and Eve, to impress upon them what they had done. While we are not yet charged, we deceive ourselves that we have got away without sin undetected, but when judgment is forced upon us, then we can no longer stave off guilt.