“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)
In my sermon series, “Searching,” we’re looking at some of life’s big questions. After Adam and Eve had broken God’s rule and eaten the forbidden fruit, they tried to hide from God.
Despite their disobedience, God was not finished with them. He went looking for them. Eventually, they came out of hiding.
This is the big question God’s asking each of us: “Where are you?” Really, God asked a series of questions, which is kind of funny because God is omniscient. God knew exactly what had happened. Still, he gave a chance for confession of sin.
“Where are you? I see you over there in the bushes. Who said you were naked? You found out for yourselves? Hey, did you eat from the tree I told you not to eat from?”
When I was a kid, my dad would occasionally ask, “Is there anything you need to tell me?” That meant I was busted. He knew about something I had done that I shouldn’t have done. But there were always several outstanding “warrants for my arrest,” and I had no idea which one he knew.
So, I’d generally own up to the least serious issue. You can’t do that with God. He knew. Adam and Eve knew that He knew. And so, they had a very hard conversation that day. The serpent was cursed, Eve was cursed, and Adam was cursed. Sin carries its own built-in consequences.
But what if they’d stayed hidden? What if God never found them? They would have missed God’s grace. The curses would have remained, but with no promise of hope for their children. They would be left without a chance of restored relationship with a loving God; they’d be on their own. They’d remain in the fig leaves of man-made religion rather than the garments of God’s salvation.
As Griffith Thomas writes, “It is the call of Divine justice, which cannot overlook sin. It is the call of Divine sorrow, which grieves over the sinner. It is the call of Divine love, which offers redemption for sin.”
Find out more about this redemption Sunday in my message, “Where Are You?”
