The Trinity of Sin by Yusufu Turaki

Author:Yusufu Turaki [Turaki, Yusufu]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-310-42969-2
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2012-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Tempter promised Eve that if she ate the fruit she would “not certainly die… For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:4). He dangled these promises in front of her, but did not tell her of the other consequences of disobedience to God. Adam and Eve not only gained knowledge, they also had their first encounter with anxiety and fear as they “realized they were naked” (Gen 3:7a).

They had thought they would see themselves as beings like God; instead, they became acutely aware of their sinful humanity. The nakedness that shamed them was not so much awareness that their bodies were not covered but rather awareness that they were no longer covered in God’s glory. There was no joy in this transformation. They detested it. But they did not weep and turn to God. Instead, driven by sinful anxiety, they tried to remedy the situation for themselves and “sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves” (Gen 3:7b). This was not an innocent act. It was the result of sin and was intended to cover up sin. It was a hopelessly inadequate remedy, as God’s later action in providing them with garments of skin will show (Gen 3:21).

When we feel shame, it is because we realize that we, too, are fallen. Our shame is often followed by anxiety. What will we do about our situation? Too often, we choose to respond to this anxiety in ways that are sinful, rather than turning to God for his solution.

When Adam and Eve “heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden… they hid from the Lord God” (Gen 3:8). Previously, they were righteous and had no need to hide from God. But now they have broken God’s command and are eager to avoid meeting him.

When God questions him, Adam blames his behaviour on his nakedness, but God sees through this excuse: “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Gen 3:11). Nakedness was only a symptom. The real reason that he was hiding from God was because he had been disobedient to God’s command. This alone is enough to rouse fear. Not only was he anxious about what to do about his newly sinful nature, but he was also afraid of what God would do to him because of his disobedience. He was anxious, ashamed, guilty and fearful.

He had good reason to be fearful. Standing before God, Adam and Eve heard him pronounce judgement on them and on all the earth for what they had done (Gen 3:11–19; 22–24). The Tempter had promised that Adam and Eve would not die if they ate the fruit of the tree. But when God spoke, he announced that Adam would “return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

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