How can Genesis 3:11 guide us in recognizing and confessing our sins? The Text “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” — Genesis 3:11, Berean Standard Bible Facing the Question God’s twofold inquiry meets Adam in the very act of hiding. Before any excuses are voiced, the Lord exposes the heart of the matter with clear, direct words. He does the same for us today, lovingly shining light where we would rather keep things in the dark. What God’s Two Questions Reveal • Sin disrupts our self–awareness. Adam only feels shame after disobeying; guilt senses what has gone wrong. • Sin always involves crossing a revealed line. The Lord’s reference to “the tree” names the specific command Adam violated. • God initiates the conversation. Humanity hides; God seeks. Our confession is never the first move—His grace is. • The questions invite a response, not denial. They draw Adam (and us) toward honesty instead of blame-shifting. Recognizing Our Own Sin • Listen for conviction. The Spirit still asks, “Who told you…?” when a sudden unease or pricked conscience arises. • Identify the command violated. Scripture gives concrete boundaries; compare thoughts, words, and actions to God’s revealed will. • Note the impulse to hide. Rationalizing, minimizing, or blaming signal that a deeper wound needs admitting. • Remember God’s character. He pursues to restore, not to destroy. His questions are pathways, not traps. Steps Toward Honest Confession 1. Stop and answer God’s question—out loud if possible. Name the specific sin without softening the language. 2. Accept full responsibility. Replace “but” and “if” with “I have eaten from the tree You commanded me not to eat.” 3. Align with Scripture’s verdict. Call sin what God calls it: disobedience, rebellion, trespass. 4. Trust His provision. Even in Eden, God moved toward a covering; ultimately, Christ’s blood cleanses confessed sin. 5. Walk in restored fellowship. Leave the bushes of secrecy, entering open communion with God and, when necessary, with trusted believers. Living in the Light of Grace Genesis 3:11 shows that the Lord’s probing questions are gifts of grace. They pierce deception, awaken conscience, and lead to sincere confession, where forgiveness and restored intimacy await. |
    |