Deny It? Deny What?

"Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
The man said, "The woman you put 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 3:11b-13

Deny It? Deny What?
By Rev. William Dohle

"Not me... Not me!"

I can't tell you how often I hear these two words from my children's lips.

Who spilled the milk on the floor and didn't clean it up??
... Not me!

Who didn't pick up his toys?
...Not me!

Who didn't eat everything on their plate?
...Not me!

These words can drive you up the wall. Not only because they're so prevalent in a young family's home but also because they're never true!

Take this common example. I've asked the boys to put their clothes away. I ask...
"Who didn't put their clothes away?" pointing down at a pile beneath my feet. They both say: "Not me!" Which can't possibly be true since I am looking at a pile that someone didn't put away! Then they both give me a run around, pointing fingers at each other, until, at last, one of them admits in tears that he was the culprit and slumps off into the room to put them away.

What both my sons fail to realize is that if they had just admitted it the fault to begin with, the problem would have been solved. The sin would have been forgiven. The clothes put away. Life would have gone on. But because they failed to admit their mistake, the blame continued to be passed over and over again.

That is the situation here in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve have just both eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now two things can happen...

They can admit they ate from the tree. They can tell God the story of how it happened, how it looked so good and they ate. They can admit that they did God wrong...and God can forgive them!

Or...

They can deny it, point fingers at each other, and never admit to each other or God that they did anything wrong. In which case God can't forgive them...for if they didn't do anything wrong there's nothing to forgive!

What is the real sin here? Is it disobeying God's command? Yes...and no. God did tell them not to eat from the tree they just ate from, but their greater sin is the denial that follows. For in their denial comes their lack of repentance. If they had eaten the apple and admitted their mistake, God, who is gracious and merciful and slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, would forgive them! But when they just keep pointing fingers at each other, God can only stand by and watch, as we parents do, as the blame is passed from one person to another to another to another. Nothing can be solved until denial is overcome.

So... how are you like Adam and Eve here? What have you denied? What is God calling you to admit, to repent of, to turn from and be healed? Is there something in your life that you have passed the blame on? Is there some sin that needs to be addressed, needs to be admitted, and needs to be overcome?

My favorite part of this story isn't the temptation narrative, it's what happens after. After God has pronounced judgement and is escorting Adam and Eve into the world, the Bible says, "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them."(v. 21)

That always speaks to me for, even when I am reluctant to take the blame and admit my wrong, God still watches over me. God still cares for me. And God still loves me. No matter what!

Lord God, we are so much like Adam and Eve, quick to point at other's wrong and slow to take blame ourselves, give us faith in your forgiveness that by your Holy Spirit we may be confident in your love for us, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.