What happens when you are accused of wrongdoing? Do you own up to your error or blame someone else? In the opening chapters of Genesis, God established true, authentic, and meaningful communication. But in chapter 3, communication breaks down. The pure communion between God and man, as well as husband and wife are corrupted.

In his book, The Trauma of Transparency: A Biblical Approach to Interpersonal Communication, J. Grant Howard examines Genesis 3 and the devastating impact of the Fall. He highlights how Adam and Eve responded to the presence of sin and shame by hiding themselves, hurling accusations, and telling half-truths. As soon as Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (v. 6), “the eyes of both of them were opened” (v. 7). They understood good from evil and felt their own sense of guilt. Their nakedness became a source of shame, so they used the most available resource to create a covering to camouflage their vulnerability.

When the Lord God came walking through the garden, their embarrassment and insecurity drove them to another level of concealment. They tried to hide from Him (v. 8) —a pitiful and pointless endeavor. The Lord called: “Where are you?” (v. 9)—knowing full well what had happened. Adam responded, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (v. 10). The open communion they had previously enjoyed was now irreversibly damaged. God mercifully responded—not with condemnation—but with questions, gently paving the road to confession (v. 11). Both Adam and Eve finally admitted to eating the fruit, but only after pointing the finger at another. They both deflected the blame to alleviate their shame.

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