Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/73

Rh shameful: yet thus we are all apt to cover our transgressions as Adam, Job 31. 33.

2. Fear seized them immediately upon their eating the forbidden fruit, v. 8. Observe here,

(1.) What was the cause and occasion of their fear; they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. It was the approach of the Judge, that put them into a fright: and yet he came in such a manner, as made it formidable only to guilty consciences. It is supposed that he came in a human shape, and that he who judged the world now, was the same that shall judge the world at the last day, even that man whom God has ordained: he appeared to them now, (it should seem,) in no other similitude than that in which they had seen him when he put them into paradise; for he came to convince and humble them, not to amaze and terrify them. He came into the garden, not descending immediately from Heaven in their view, as afterward on mount Sinai, (making either thick darkness his pavilion, or the flaming fire his chariot,) but he came into the garden, as one that was still willing to be familiar with them. He came walking, not running, not riding upon the wings of the wind, but walking deliberately, as one slow to anger; teaching us, when we are ever so much provoked, not to be hot or hasty, but to speak and act considerately, and not rashly. He came in the cool of the day, not in the night, when all fears are doubly fearful, nor in the heat of the day, for he came not in the heat of his anger; Fury is not in him, Isa. 27. 4. Nor did he come suddenly upon them; but they heard his voice at some distance, giving them notice of his coming, and, probably, it was a still small voice, like that in which he came to inquire after Elijah. Some think they heard him discoursing with himself concerning the sin of Adam, and the judgment now to be passed upon him; perhaps, as he did concerning Israel, Hos. 11. 8, 9. How shall I give thee up? Or rather, they heard him calling for them, and coming toward them.

(2.) What was the effect and evidence of their fear; they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God: a sad change! Before they had sinned, if they had heard the voice of the Lord God coming toward them, they would have run to meet him, and with a humble joy welcomed his gracious visits; but now that it was otherwise, God was become a terror to them, and then, no marvel that they were become a terror to themselves, and full of confusion; their own consciences accused them, and set their sin before them in its colours; their fig-leaves failed them, and would do them no service; God was come forth against them as an enemy, and the whole creation was at war with them; and as yet, they knew not of any mediator between them and an angry God, so that nothing remained but a certain fearful looking for of judgment. In this fright, they hid themselves among the bushes; having offended, they fled for the same. Knowing themselves guilty, they durst not stand a trial, but absconded, and fled from justice. See here,

[1.] The falsehood of the tempter, and the frauds and the fallacies of his temptations: he promised them they should be safe, but now they cannot so much as think themselves so; he said they should not die, and yet now they are forced to fly for their lives; he promised them they should be advanced, but they see themselves abased, never did they seem so little as now; he promised them they should be knowing, but they see themselves at a loss, and know not so much as where to hide themselves; he promised them they should be as gods, great, and bold, and daring, but they are as criminals discovered, trembling, pale, and anxious to escape: they would not be subjects, and so they are prisoners. [2.] The folly of sinners, to think it either possible, or desirable, to hide themselves from God: can they conceal themselves from the Father of lights? Ps. 139. 7, &c. Jer. 23. 24. Will they withdraw themselves from the Fountain of life, who alone can give help and happiness? Jon. 2. 8. [3.] The fears that attend sin; all that amazing fear of God's appearances, the accusations of conscience, the approaches of trouble, the assaults of inferior creatures, and the arrests of death which is common among men, all these are the effect of sin. Adam and Eve, who were partners in the sin, were sharers in the shame and fear that attended it; and though hand joined in hand, (hands so lately joined in marriage,) yet could they not animate or fortify one another: miserable comforters they were become to each other!

9. And the God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10. And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

We have here the arraignment of these deserters before the righteous judge of heaven and earth, who, though he is not tied to observe formalities, yet proceeds against them with all possible fairness, that he may be justified when he speaks. Observe here,

1. The startling question with which God pursued Adam, and arrested him. Where art thou? Not as if God did not know where he was; but thus he would enter the process against him. "Come, where is this foolish man?" Some make it a bemoaning question, "Poor Adam, what is become of thee?" "Alas for thee!" (so some read it,) "How art thou fallen, Lucifer, son of the morning! Thou that wast my friend and favourite, whom I have done so much for, and would have done so much more for; hast thou now forsaken me, and ruined thyself? Is it come to this?" It is rather an upbraiding question, in order to his conviction and humiliation. Where art thou? Not, In what place, but, In what condition? "Is this all thou hast gotten by eating forbidden fruit? Thou that wouldest vie with me, dost thou now fly from me?" Note, (1.) Those who by sin have gone astray from God, should seriously consider where they are; they are afar off from all good, in the midst of their enemies, in bondage to Satan, and in the high road to utter ruin. This inquiry after Adam may be looked upon as a gracious pursuit in kindness to him, and in order to his recovery. If God had not called to him, to reclaim him, his condition had been as desperate as that of fallen angels; this lost sheep had wandered endlessly, if the good shepherd had not sought after him, to bring him back, and in order to that, reminded him where he was, where he should not be, and where he could not be, either happy or easy. Note, (2.) If sinners will but consider where they are, they will not rest till they return to God.

2. The trembling answer which Adam gave to this question, v. 10, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid: he does not own his guilt, and yet in effect confesses it, by owning his shame and fear; but it is the common fault and folly of those that have done an ill thing, when they are questioned about it, to acknowledge no more than what is so manifest that they cannot deny it. Adam was afraid, because he was naked; not only unarmed, and therefore afraid to contend with God, but unclothed, and therefore afraid so much as to appear before him. We have reason to be afraid of approaching to God, if we be not clothed and fenced with the righteousness of Christ; for nothing but that, will be armour of proof, and cover the shame