WHERE ARE YOU
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:8-9 (NIV)
When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the one tree in the garden that God said they were not to eat from, then they recognized their condition of disobedience and separation from God. As they heard God approaching, they hid from Him because they were ashamed of themselves and what they had done.
Haven't we all been there? Wanting to disappear, not be seen, because we're ashamed of something we've said or done? We may feel like we can't even approach God because we think we've gone past the reach of His forgiveness, wanting to avoid disappointing our heavenly Father at all costs. But God, in His kindness, called out to Adam and Eve, saying, "Where are you?" I love this! Of course, God knew where they were. So why did He ask?
Just my opinion, but I think God wanted Adam and Eve to know He still wanted to be in relationship with them. God was reaching out to them to let them know He was still there, still longing for their walks together in the cool of the day. I believe one of the messages behind God's Where are you is I'm still here. I also think God wanted Adam and Eve to hear His voice. More than just the words God was saying, I believe God wanted them to hear the tone of love in His words. A message in God's Where are you also includes, I still love you. The third message I think God was communicating to Adam and Eve was Tell me about it. Tell me what's going on. No matter how bad it is, God wants to hear about it from you and wants to walk alongside you.
God knew that the eating of the forbidden fruit would bring terrible consequences for Adam and Eve, including hardship and death. Not only the eventual physical death of Adam and Eve but also the death of some of the animals in the garden and the eventual death of everyone. Even though Adam and Eve had made some coverings for their bodies out of fig leaves to cover their nakedness, God showed His care for them by making some garments of animal skins to provide something better, meaning some animals had to die as part of the consequences of Adam and Eve's sin.
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Genesis 3:21 (NIV)
God also knew that He would send His only Son, Jesus, to die to provide ultimate forgiveness for Adam and Eve's sins, as well as our sins. I believe God's Where are You also means Let me come alongside you and provide something better for you because I love you.
APPLICATION: Listen for God's Where are you today. Tell Him what you're thinking and feeling. Listen for thoughts He puts in your mind. Seek what He wants to say to you in Scripture. Share what you find with your spouse or a friend.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for providing a way for me to be forgiven. I trust that You want to hear from me. Here's what I'm thinking and feeling . . .
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?