“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 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. 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. 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.’
“And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’ The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ Then the LORD God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate’” (Genesis 3:6-13, NIV).
Now, may I ask: what do you think is the good thing that your father did that you will always remember?
In my case, I could remember many good and even exciting things that my physical father did, especially when I was still very young. One of those things was when he performed magic tricks before me.
When I was three or four years old, he placed a glass of water on the table, while he held a coin in his hand. Then, he wrapped the coin in the middle of the handkerchief and instructed me to hold it over the glass of water. Then, he uttered some “magic words” and told me to release what I was holding. You could hear the clink inside the glass, when the thing that I held fell in the water filled glass. But, when the handkerchief was removed, you could not see any trace of coin inside the glass! My physical father could vanish a coin.
But, studying the first verses of Genesis chapter 1, we learned that our Heavenly Father could make something appear out of nothing. Because He is the Eternal Creator.
Also, we learned that He is the Sovereign Being, in complete control of all things. And He is the Supreme Personal Being, whom we could have intimate personal relationship. Really, we would seek and desire to have a close relationship with Him, because He is supremely good.
And this time, we will observe that even to sinners, He shows His goodness. So, our topic is… GOD DISPLAYED HIS GOODNESS TO THE REBELLIOUS… as we focus on our text (Genesis 3:6-19).
So, how did God display His goodness to man even when he sinned against Him?
Before the account that happened in our text, Moses -- who wrote the first five books of the Bible – related many good things that God gave to the man. Aside from his life and being created in the very image of God, the man was provided with a garden – really a very good one!
Then, God provided him “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Gen. 2:9).
God granted him the pleasure of employment. What good thing then to farm or work in the garden and keep it (verse 15)!
God issued to the man a very good command – an instruction that would prolong his good life in the garden for eternity and would prevent his joyful relationship with His Maker to be severed (verse 16-17).
And God provided the man with a partner. For it was not good for the man to be alone.
But, in spite of all the good things he enjoyed from the Good God, the man listened to the alluring lies of the tempter!
Yet, God continued to display His goodness to the rebellious man. How?
I – By displaying His gentleness (verses 6-11).
We read verses 6-11, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 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. 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. 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.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Moses related that our first parents disbelieved God who gave them everything good. They did not believe Him that they should eat the tree of life in order for them to have the life God wanted them to have. Instead, they believed the tempter that they ate what would cause them to be separated from their joyful relationship with God. They believed the alluring lies and relied only on their human observation and human judgement– the fruit of the tree was attractive, so it was good for food; that it would give wisdom, better than the wisdom that their Maker would give to them. They believed the lie that God was trying to withhold something from them. They believed the lie that they could exercise the Divine Authority to determine what is good and what is evil.
The disobedience of man was a rebellious or treasonous act that sprouted from the wicked heart of unbelief in the Goodness of God and from a sense of pride that one should desire to rise to the height of Divine authority of deciding what is wrong and what is right.
Because of the enormity of his sin, man deserved not just to suffer physical death, but to suffer in hell for eternity at that very moment. But notice the goodness of God that was displayed before the erring man.
“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…” Our first parents were not deafened by the thunder of a furious God they offended.
God was really gentle as He confronted the offenders. “…as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” – He was not rushing to get even with them, but “walking… in the cool of the day” – not in the burning hot of the sun.
Next, God showed His gentleness to them by not accusing them at once of their rebellious act. “But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” God knew exactly their location. But, He was more interested to point out to the offenders where they were now in their situation after their wicked act. Yet, the man refused or could not confess the sin – “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” He did not say, “I was afraid because I committed the sinful act.” The man just declared an effect of his sin, rather than the weight of his guilt.
But, again, in a gentle way, God would like the man to acknowledge the real problem: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Human beings suffer many problems. Lack of clothing. Lack of food. Lack of money. Lack of time. Lack of strength. Absence of fulfillment and satisfaction. Absence of company. Absence of good health. Absence of security. Absence of good job, or nice dwelling, or whatever.
They are apprehensive or fearful, because of the lack or absence of the things treasured in this world.
Our real problem is that in Adam, we committed the rebellious act that we deserve to suffer in hell for eternity. But, God is gentle to us that instead of confronting us with the words, “You deserve to perish and suffer now in hell for eternity,” He declared: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Instead of confronting us with the words, “You are vile, wicked, rebellious children of the devil!,” He gently told us: “Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
How about us, saints or believers – do we just acknowledge to God the pain of the absence of material or physical convenience or comfort? Why not also confess to Him daily the pain that we bring to His heart every time we disobey Him, every time we disbelieve His promises, every time we are more attracted to the pleasure in this world?
Daily let us not just ask for His provisions, but also for His forgiveness. And we should not hesitate to confess our sins to Him. Because He is gentle in confronting us in our sins, especially He is now our Father.
As we read in Psalm 103:13-14, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”
In what other way that God displayed His goodness to the rebellious?
II – By displaying His patience (verses 11-13).
We read verses 11-13, “And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
In His patience, God coined a question, so that man himself would confess the wicked thing he committed. Though God knew what the man did, He still waited for the man to acknowledge it.
And also in His patience, He just allowed our first parents to justify their wrong doing. Even to the extent of indirectly passing the blame to God Himself.
What loving patience that our God displayed that Moses did not record further rebuke to our first parents for their additional expression of wrong doing!
Also, what contrast when an offended human person that he is quick to impute further wrong doing to another person.
Human beings are always quick to identify and point out the shortcoming or sin of others. And when they would stumble in sin, they are also quick to throw the blame to others, even to God Himself. Patience toward the shortcoming of others is not easily extended.
But, God, as we read in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Truly, God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:32; 33:11). But not everyone will repent. Just like in the time of Noah, when only few were saved tho God displayed His patience then.
We read in 1 Peter 3:20, “to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water…”
How about us, saints or believers, are we among those “few people” who easily repent of our sins, as we take advantage of God’s patience?
Should we not be grateful for His patience? Then, let’s repent not only when we think or do something evil, but when we fail to desire or do something for God’s glory. Let’s repent when we fail to offer enough time to God. Let’s repent when we fail to desire or do enough reading, studying or listening to His Word. Let’s repent when we fail to offer our talent, resources, or effort as God expected us to do.
Let’s pray that not one of us here will abuse God’s patience. Should we join the majority in the world who just take sin lightly and refuse to repent?
CONCLUSION:
In closing, we need to realize that God’s goodness shines even in the spiritual darkness of sin. He displays it by displaying His gentleness and by displaying His patience.
If we acknowledge Him as our Father, we need also to emulate Him. So, if others will offend us, we should not confront them with harshness, with vindictiveness, or with condemnation. When we deserve to suffer His wrath, instead of pouring it immediately to us, He sent His Son to suffer and die for us, so that we could receive forgiveness and be clothed with His righteousness.
