Although many have relegated the story of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit to the level of a fairy tale on the order of Hansel and Gretel, there are profound truths here about both human nature and God's.

A significant feature of this story is God seeking out Adam and Eve after they have sinned and asking them a series of questions.  Rather than blasting them with his anger and disappointment, God invites them to confess, to take responsibility, to come clean about their actions.  To be sure, there are harsh consequences for them, but the first step is for them to face reality.  Like a loving parent who already knows what their child has done wrong, he knows it's important that they say it out loud and take ownership.

Perhaps the most haunting question God asks Adam is "Where are you?".  It's not as if he didn't know where Adam was, or that they were playing a game of hide-and-seek.  Rather, the question is designed to get Adam to own up to his fateful choice.  His response is telling, "...I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." (Genesis 3:10)

And ever since then, we humans have been hiding from God and one another, carefully arranging and rearranging our carefully sewn fig leaves to cover our nakedness.  We suspect that if others saw the real us, they would not like what they see.  And like our first parents, we attempt to hide from God due to our guilt and shame over breaking his commandments.  

Yet God doesn't leave them alone to wallow in their guilt and shame.  Not only does he seek them out, but he provides "garments of skin" -- presumably an innocent animal was sacrificed -- to cover their nakedness.  In spite of what Adam and Eve have done, their sin doesn't get the last word in this story, God's mercy does.  

I'm thankful we have a God who seeks us out, who comes looking for us no matter what we've done, and who provides to cover our nakedness.