The first judgment scene.
I. THE FLIGHT Or THE CRIMINALS.
1. It is the instinct of sinful men to flee from God. "Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God" (Genesis 3:8). So "Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord" (Jonah 1:3).
2. It is God's habit to pursue transgressors. As he pursued Adam and Eve in the garden by his voice (verse 9), and Jonah on the deep by a wind (Jonah 1:4), and David by his prophet (2 Samuel 12:1), so does he still in his providence, and through the ministry of his word, and by his Spirit, follow after fleeing sinners—
3. It is the certain fate of all fugitives to be eventually arrested. Witness Adam and Eve (verse 9), Cain (Genesis 4:9), David (2 Samuel 12:1), Ahab (1 Kings 21:20), Jonah (Genesis 1:6). Distance will not prevent (Psalms 139:7). Darkness will not hinder (Psalms 139:11). Secrecy will not avail (Hebrews 4:13). Material defenses will not ward off the coming doom (Amos 9:2, Amos 9:3). The lapse of time will not make it less certain (Numbers 32:23).
II. THE EXAMINATION OF THE CRIMINALS.
1. God's questions are always painfully direct and searching. "Adam, where art thou?" (verse 9). "Who told thee thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree?"(verse 11); "What hast thou done?" (verse 13).
2. Man's apologies are always extremely weak and trifling.
3. The Divine verdict is always clear and convincing.
III. THE SENTENCE OF THE CRIMINALS.
1. On the serpent—judgment without mercy.
2. On the sinning pair—mercy, and then judgment.
Learn—
1. The folly of attempting to hide from God. It is better to flee to God than to run from God, even when we sin (Psalms 143:9).
2. The expediency of confessing to God. It is always the shortest path to mercy and forgiveness (Psalms 32:5).
3. The gentle treatment which men receive from God. Like David, we have all reason to sing of mercy as well as, and even rather than, judgment (Psalms 101:1).