Review by Daniel Ng -- Who Told You That You Were Naked?

[Daniel Ng]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Who Told You That You Were Naked?" by William Combs.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Title : Who Told You That You Were Naked? - A Refreshing Reexamination of The Garden of Eden
Author : William Combs
Type : Non-fiction
Reviewed by : Daniel GH Ng
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This is an interesting and insightful book that looks into how the first human couple, Adam and Eve, had sinned against God by consuming the forbidden fruit, albeit by the deception of the serpent. Combs has arranged most chapters into three sections: topic with exposition, personal testimonies and study questions. He begins the book with the first three chapters depicting the scene at the Garden of Eden, leading readers to experience the innermost thoughts and feelings that the couple might have experienced amid their first transgression. Subsequently, Combs expounds on the plight of sin, the meaning of faith, the reality of spiritual warfare, and the powerful redemptive plan of God and the way to rest and follow Him.

Combs has cleverly devised this thematic question: Who Told You That You Were Naked?, evoking reader to self-reflect on his behaviour, hear his own justification for his action, search his heart to know- why do I say that. All answers concur and allude to one having acquired the knowledge of good and evil. Combs elucidates death, the ramification of sin, comes in three forms - relational death, spiritual death and physical death. He further illustrates the different forms of sinning - be it intentional, unintentional or otherwise. Combs concurs that albeit death is real, salvation is at hand too! He reveals God’s unconditional and painstaking love in providing the human race a way out of the eternal death through His Son, Jesus’s sacrifice. While the book begins with how sin has entered human’s life, it also leads the human race to know their Creator, Maker, and Father personally by following and resting in Him.

This book helps me to visualise and identify with Adam, Eve, Cain and other characters mentioned in the book, in their personal struggle with sin, faith, fear and doubts. It gives me new insights into how one’s faith is put to test in the light of trial and spiritual warfare. I particularly like the sharing of personal testimonies that aid me in seeing the reality and challenge that one faces in his sojourn on earth. It also connect me with the writer.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Combs neatly combines descriptive, narrative, expositional writing with testimonies and reflective questions to help reader better understand the struggle of sinning and faith. Combs does not only highlight the ramification of sin, he also unfolds the redemptive plan of God to reconcile sinners. It reveals much of the writer’s love for his God, his wife and the God’s human race. This book is relevant for all who like to gain new perspectives and insights into the perpetual sinning of individuals, and the redemptive way to safeguard one’s eternality.

(Question to the Author)

One aspect that seems rather perplexing to me is the scene of lioness attacking the ewe, and the fear that Adam has over his safety in the beginning chapter. My question is: Was lioness ferocious, and death imminent in the beginning? Had there seasons, summers, existed then, which somewhat seems contrary to my understanding in Genesis 2:5b-6 and Isaiah 11:6-9. I used to think that death takes place only after the fall of human race, not before consuming the forbidden fruit.

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Who Told You That You Were Naked?
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The author's answer to your question.

Isaiah 11:6-9 is a picture of life after Jesus Christ has returned and has restored that level of peace and security to the earth. Lions don't lay down with lambs today.

God told Adam and his wife to subdue the earth. He also said they had dominion over the creatures. So, there must have been some form of conflict in the world outside the garden. Otherwise, they would not need to have dominion and have the authority to subdue these creatures. He also said for them to be fruitful and multiply. The garden could not have held or supported their family as it grew. So, I took that to mean their role before the fall was to extend the boundary of the garden as their family grew and extend the peace and security they enjoyed to all the creatures they had dominion over.

There is no mention of creatures in Genesis 2:5 - 6. For a more complete picture, we need to see what is presented in Genesis chapter 1. Notice that the creatures are created on days 5 and 6 -- and the final creation of day 6 is mankind. You might choose to believe that since there is no mention of death in chapter 1, there was, therefore, no death. The only mention of death after the fall was toward Adam and Eve. God cursed the ground for their sake. But nowhere does it say that He also cursed the animal kingdom for their sake.

I also had to grapple with Adam's perception of God's command not to eat the fruit -- "In the day you eat of it, you shall surely die." If there was no death in the world at that point, what meaning would such an injunction have on Adam? That is, if he had nothing to relate the meaning of "death" to, why would he be concerned about eating the fruit of the tree? In order to better understand that, just substitute a nonsense word like "tepaurey" in place of die. "In the day you eat of it, you shall surely tepaurey." Adam must have had some inclination of its meaning or the command would have carried little weight. Thanks for asking and I hope this helps.