And how do they behave now they are naked? Do they flee to GOD for pardon? Do they seek to GOD for a robe to cover their nakedness? No, they were now dead to GOD, and became earthly, sensual, devilish: therefore, instead of applying to GOD for mercy, “they sewed or platted fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons,” or things to gird about them. This is a lively representation of all natural men: we see that we are naked: we, in some measure, confess it; but, instead of looking up to GOD for succour, we patch up a righteousness of our own (as our first-parents platted fig-leaves together) hoping to cover our nakedness by that. But our righteousness will not stand the severity of GOD’s judgment: it will do us no more service than the fig-leaves did _Adam_ and _Eve_, that is, none at all.
For (verse 8.) “They heard the voice of the LORD GOD walking in the trees of the garden, in the cool of the day; and _Adam_ and his wife (notwithstanding their fig-leaves) hid themselves from the presence of the LORD GOD, among the trees of the garden.”
They heard the voice of the LORD GOD, or the Word of the LORD GOD, even the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who is “the word that was with GOD, and the word that was GOD.” They heard him walking in the trees of the garden, in the cool of the day. A season, perhaps, when _Adam_ and _Eve_ used to go, in an especial manner, and offer up an evening-sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. The cool of the day. Perhaps the sin was committed early in the morning, or at noon; but GOD would not come upon them immediately, he staid till the cool of the day. And if we would effectually reprove others, we should not do it when they are warmed with passion, but wait till the cool of the day.
But what an alteration is here! Instead of rejoicing at the voice of their beloved, instead of meeting him with open arms and inlarged hearts, as before, they now hide themselves in the trees of the garden. Alas, what a foolish attempt was this? Surely they must be naked, otherwise how could they think of hiding themselves from GOD? Whither could they flee from his presence? But, by their fall, they had contracted an enmity against GOD: they now hated, and were afraid to converse with GOD their Maker. And is not this our case by nature? Assuredly it is. We labour to cover our nakedness with the fig-leaves of our own righteousness: We hide ourselves from GOD as long as we can, and will not come, and never should come, did not the Father prevent, draw, and sweetly constrain us by his grace, as he here prevented _Adam_.
Verse 9. “And the LORD GOD called unto _Adam_, and said unto him, _Adam_, where art thou?”
“The LORD GOD called unto _Adam_,” (for otherwise _Adam_ would never have called unto the LORD GOD) and said, “_Adam_, where art thou? How is it that thou comest not to pay thy devotions as usual?” Christians, remember the LORD keeps an account when you fail coming to worship. Whenever therefore you are tempted to withhold your attendance, let each of you fancy you heard the LORD GOD calling unto you, and saying, “O man, O woman, where art thou?” It may be understood in another and better sense; “_Adam_, where art thou?” What a condition is thy poor soul in? This is the first thing the LORD asks and convinces a sinner of; when he prevents and calls him effectually by his grace; he also calls him by name; for unless GOD speaks to us in particular, and we know where we are, how poor, how miserable, how blind, how naked, we shall never value the redemption wrought out for us by the death and obedience of the dear LORD JESUS. “_Adam_, where art thou?”
Verse 10. “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid.” See what cowards sin makes us. If we knew no sin, we should know no fear. “Because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Verse 11. “And he said, who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I (thy Maker and Law-giver) commanded thee, that thou shouldst not eat?”
GOD knew very well that _Adam_ was naked, and that he had eaten of the forbidden fruit. But GOD would know it from _Adam_’s own mouth. Thus GOD knows all our necessities before we ask, but yet insists upon our asking for his grace, and confessing our sins. For, by such acts, we acknowledge our dependence upon GOD, take shame to ourselves, and thereby give glory to his great name.
Verse 12. “And the man said, the woman which thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”