Blaming God (Part 3)

When Eve ate the fruit from the forbidden tree and gave her husband to taste of it, both of them sinned. Suddenly it became impossible for them to stand before God with whom they had nurtured a close-knit relationship all along. Disobedience suddenly got in the way and contact between them and their Maker was estranged. That they were now hiding from God was a sign they had eaten of the fruit.

While on a regular visit to the garden, God enquired about their whereabouts. Adam responded, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid.” (Genesis 3.10) Further questioning: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Genesis 3.11) Adam lamely retorted: “The woman you put here with me---she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12)

Adam was washing his hands off the blame, arguing that everything had been perfect in the Garden until God brought him “the woman” as wife. Therefore he was not to blame for the incident, God was to blame. Got the picture? Talk of passing the buck? In other words, Adam was saying; ‘God you are in a position to judge.’ What Adam failed to realise was that he was the head of the family and in fact the instructions were not given to Eve but to him. Furthermore, he was standing by and could have reprimanded or stopped Eve from carrying on with her disobedient act. He didn’t. Since Adam found a way out, Eve when asked “what is this that you have done?” blamed the serpent. “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:13)

God forgives guilt even if we have to pay the price of sin.

Denying our share of the blame and putting it on Satan is now a common subterfuge.