“Confession is good for the soul.” This is not a biblical proverb, but it flows from the Bible’s teaching. God’s question to Eve resonates with ­every sinner’s soul: “What is this you have done?” Her answer is history’s first confession of sin: “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” She knew that God knew. No use denying it.

After Eve’s confession, God issued judgment on the serpent (Satan), on human beings, and on creation because of human sin. The serpent would slither in the dust and later be crushed by Eve’s offspring (when Jesus conquered sin and death for us—Romans 8:1-4). Childbirth, the woman’s unique privilege, would include severe pain, yet she would still desire her husband. And farming, humanity’s high calling in caring for God’s creation, would now include backbreaking work to produce the food people had to eat. Then eventually their bodies would die and return to the dust they had come from.

But in an act of grace, God clothed his imagebearers with animal hides. And he evicted them from Eden—not as punishment but to protect them from living forever in sin and separation from God.

Salvation requires confession. Like Adam and Eve, we all sin. The question God asked Eve needs to be answered daily so that we can grow in grace. “What is this you have done?” An honest answer will be good for the soul.