His attempt to conceal himself, knowing he could not escape God’s sight, was not an effort at self-hiding but rather a preview of the harm he would endure. When God rebuked him for his action, Adam replied, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” Gen. 3:12. In turn, the woman replied, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” Gen. 3:13. They were questioned so that their confessions could obliterate the weight of their sin. The serpent, as the instigator, was not posed a question regarding sin, as he could not be restored to forgiveness. Adam was asked, “Where are you?” to prompt him to reflect on his transgression and recognize how far he had strayed from his Creator. Yet, instead of confessing, he chose to defend himself. While Adam sought to shift blame to the woman, and the woman to the serpent, their attempts at justification only multiplied their sin. Adam indirectly accused the Lord, as it was He who created the woman; Eve in turn pointed to the Lord for placing the serpent in the garden. The words of the serpent, “You shall be as gods” Gen. 3:5, illustrated an insatiable desire for divinity, leading them to attempt to make themselves equal to God even in wrongdoing. Consequently, those who seek to justify their wrongdoings only accumulate more sin, aggravating their guilt.
This tendency endures, as today’s humanity, when confronted with sin, often hides behind self-justifications, much like Adam’s leafy cover, casting obscurities towards their Creator rather than admitting their guilt. Thus, they don’t shield themselves from the Lord but rather obscure the Lord from their own view, failing to perceive Him who sees all. For every sinner, the initial step towards spiritual awakening is the humble act of confession. Those unafraid to recognize the wrong they have done often find that in admitting their faults, they open themselves to grace. In this light, when Jesus spoke to Lazarus, who was bound in heavy stones, He did not say, “be revived,” but rather “come forth” John 11:43. Through this act of resurrection, we see how we too can be revived in our hearts. The dead man, confined in his sins, must emerge outwardly to reveal what lies hidden in his heart. Thus, he is called to “come forth,” signifying a release from the concealment of sin, enabling him to step out and voice his confessions. When David, a prophet, returned from the depths of his sin, he was led to the voice of the Lord through Nathan’s rebuke of his actions.
Job, recognizing the grave extent of sin hidden within humanity, remarked, “If I have concealed my transgressions,” clearly noting that a man’s propensity to err mirrors that of our ancient progenitor. Job aptly adds, “and made my iniquity secret in my heart.” In Scripture, the term “heart” often denotes the mind, as in the Psalmist’s prayer regarding adversaries who are akin to us in nature yet differ in their actions: “And repay our neighbors sevenfold in their hearts” Psalms 78:12. The implication is that they may suffer inwardly as they inflict pain outwardly. The “bosom” hence symbolizes the hidden thoughts, illustrating the act of burying sin within the recesses of one’s conscience, away from acknowledgment through confession, as opposed to revealing it by seeking forgiveness. Conversely, James counsels, “Confess your transgressions to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed” James 5:16. The wise Solomon states, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will be pardoned” Proverbs 28:13.
It is essential to recognize that many may acknowledge their sins yet lack humility. We observe individuals who, without external accusation, admit their sinfulness, but when confronted with reproof, become defensive, striving to hide their faults. True humility allows one to see oneself as a sinner. Those who sincerely confess their sins will not negate this when reproached; instead, they affirm their admission. Thus, it is said, “The righteous man first condemns himself” Proverbs 18:17, desiring to appear righteous rather than sinful, admitting guilt when unchallenged but faltering when another points out their wrongs. Moreover, a proud defense exposes the insincerity of any confession previously made. Therefore, it is paramount to ensure that our sins are recognized and acknowledged willingly, rather than denied when others confront us. The sin of pride convinces a person that it suffices to admit wrongdoing on their own but avoids acceptance of the same when challenged by others.
In this light, blessed Job demonstrated profound humility, boldly confessing his wrongs despite living amidst adversaries. Observe that he articulated his virtues yet simultaneously admitted his sins, thereby affirming the integrity of his claims. His readiness to acknowledge both his righteous acts and his failings illustrates his candor. Hence, he is shown to be extraordinarily righteous in the sight of God, as he abstained from evil deeds and was open about those he could not escape. Although he held commendable virtues, he appeared even greater to me in the humility of his confessions. It is indeed more challenging to honestly disclose one’s failings, often due to feelings of shame, than to simply refrain from committing them. Every sin, while potentially evitable, requires even greater humility to acknowledge openly. Thus, Job’s willingness to confront his sin amid his multitude of virtues exemplifies the humility he embodied. True humility brings about a strength that allows the soul to embrace improvement without seeking appearances, particularly after the act of confession is made.
THEOSIS