God the Investigator (Genesis 3)

 God the Investigator

In Genesis 3 we find the first sin of mankind.
But with this sin we also find the first proper investigation by God.

He starts asking questions:


[Gen 3:9, 11, 13, 15 NKJV] 9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where [are] you?" ... 11 And He said, "Who told you that you [were] naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" ... 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, "What [is] this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." ... 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."


The only one who doesn’t get a question is the serpent.
Genesis 3 is framed in a judgment setting.

An offense happened. God investigates and questions the offenders. Then a judgment is pronounced in verse 14 to 19 and then it is executed.

So why does God use questions? He already knows everything so it’s certainly not for Himself.

Then it must be for others. 

First of all we may assume that Satan, the deceiver and fallen angel in Genesis 3, had left quite a mark in heaven. He has cast doubts on God's character on earth, why not in heaven where he was art first?

This means God’s character is in question. Is He fair? Is He right?
This asks for transparency which this whole process of judgment, including the questioning, does.

But while there is an investigation done for transparency towards the rest of creation, humanity is also brought to investigate itself with questions.

When investigative questions are asked a person is forced to think about the why’s of an action he or she did. 

Adam and Eve were to investigate themselves. Where are you? Why are you hiding?
Who told you you were naked? What is the reason behind you knowing?
Have you eaten the tree? Why did you do this?

What is it you have done? What are the exact actions you’ve done here?

From these investigative questions God asks there can only be 2 responses. Either we are transparent as well and we confess what we did.
Or we deny the fullness of what we did. In the case of Adam and Eve they started to blame others.

The principle of transparency and fairness can be clearly seen. God wants us to be transparent towards Him and He is transparent in His judgment towards His creation. And in judging He wants us to investigate ourselves.

This is the way God acts and thinks. It is part of His character.

Unlike the kings of this world, He gives all the transparency that is needed for His creation to trust Him. 

And also, unlike an enemy He wishes to clothe us when we are transparent to Him.

This is our King. This is our Judge and Advocate.


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