The eyes of them both were opened: The sad tale of the Fall was complete. They now knew what sin was. Their eyes were open, and they learned that God’s Word was true. And, they found out that it was a lot better back in the state of Grace they were in. The best place for anyone to be is in the center of God’s will.
The first man and woman had fallen from God’s grace. Now, instead of always being able to fellowship with God, they were totally cut off from Him. They had died spiritually. That part of them that could interact with God easily was gone.
What would they do? The two were alone, in a world that suddenly seemed so strange to them. Everything must have seemed different, because they noticed something that hadn’t been a problem before. It was something that couldn’t’ cross their minds, in their innocent state. As noted, they had no lustful thoughts, no reason to hide themselves. Suddenly, they felt the sensation they’d never felt. They knew they were naked. And, they needed to hide.
We don’t know exactly how they realized this. They had to have studied their physical appearances, though. At the very least, they had looked at each other – hence the reason I think they would have eaten the fruit together. So, what does this mean, that they knew they were naked? What changed about their image of themselves?
One, I believe, was a sensual change. They had been tempted by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. That this was with the forbidden fruit. They hadn’t felt these urges with their own bodies, though. Suddenly, they had sensations they’d never felt. They looked at each other, and they desired each other physically in a way they hadn’t before. They felt their own bodies in a new way. They felt pride in them, instead of siply glorifying God for making them Adam and Eve probably each felt they were something special. Adam, for instance, may have felt the need to show off his muscles, or Eve to demonstrate some other ability.
More importantly, there was a spiritual change. They suddenly felt vulnerable, partly because of the sensual change, but mostly because of something else. Their connection with God had been lost. They were alone, in a plce where they didn’t know what God would do or how He would react. They’d always known God personally. They’d felt His perfect love, perfect love which casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) That fear also made them feel very vulnerable.
They tried to fix this by sewing fig leaves together. They realized there was an outer part that needed fixed. For the moment, it worked, because it was only them. They weren’t worrying about God approaching. They didn’t hide immediately.
In the same way, when people sin, if they don’t have the knowledge that God will see them, they become bolder.
Sometimes, this is because they are saved, and have totally chosen to ignore that part of them that has communion with God. If that’s the case, God will try harder and harder to get their attention. A person who is fleeing from God, like Jonah, may need to suffer a catastrophe before they realize they need to listen.
More often, though, it is because the person has never been saved. They don’t realize that there will come a day when they must face the eternal consequences of their actions. They need to call on the Savior to rescue them, and take the punishment for their sins. However, they refuse to do so, until that time when they meet God face to face. Just as Adam and Eve would face in the next verse.
This is why it is vital that we receive Christ as Savior, and tell others about Him, quickly. We never know when we will breathe our last, and we must make the most of our chances. And, we never know when Christ will return.
