 |
|
| Volume 24 Number 10 October 2022 |
Page 14 |
|
|
| Volume 24 Number 10 October 2022 |
Page 14 |
Johnny O. Trail
In Genesis 3:9, God asked the curious question, “Where are you?” The context of the question appears in Genesis 3:7-9, which says:
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” (NKJV)
Have you ever wondered why God asked this question? Were Adam and Eve able to hide from an omniscient God? Would it be possible for one to win a game of hide and seek with God as a player? The student of God’s Word might ponder the implications of this question.
The question “Where are you?” required an admission of what they had done. Genesis 3:10 says, “So he said, ‘I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.’” Prior to this they had no reason to be afraid of God’s presence. It seems that man and God enjoyed full fellowship with one another prior to Genesis 3. Furthermore, Adam and Eve had no prior understanding of what nakedness entailed. Hiding meant they knew what transgressing God’s commandment meant (Proverbs 28:1).
The question “Where are you?” forced Adam and Eve to acknowledge the shame of their sin. The ancestors of humankind were mortified in recognition of transgressing God’s will. We should share their shame when we fall short of God’s will. Instead of shame, many are unable to even blush when they violate God’s laws. Jeremiah 6:15 says, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, they shall be cast down, says the LORD.” In Adam and Eve’s transgression, all their innocence was lost. They had made their own determination about what constituted right and wrong.
The question “Where are you?” might address their newly distorted relationship with God. Their transgressions had forever altered humankinds’ connection with Jehovah. While one is not accountable for another person’s sins (Ezekiel 18:20), the introduction of sin caused a fundamental change in man’s prior association with God. Full fellowship with God (Genesis 3:8) devolved into the first humans being forbidden to come into the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). Isaiah 59:1-2 emphasizes this separation when it reads, “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
The question “Where are you?” accentuates the fear that Adam and Eve felt in realization of their sins and the impending judgment by an offended God. While reverence of Yahweh is a positive thing, the terror of offending Him should cause all the descendants of the first humans to cease from their transgressions. Hebrews 10:30-31 says, “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
“Where are you?” is more about a condition than a place. Their new circumstances ushered in sin (Romans 6:23) and death (Ezekiel 18:20; Hebrews 9:27), which no person other than Christ has been able to avoid both sin and death (Hebrews 4:15). Since Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin, He is the only one who can provide an escape for others. Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Humankind’s situation after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden was eternal loss without hope (Romans 5:6-9).
When God asked Adam and Eve “Where are you?” it underscored a change in the relationship between the first husband and wife. The relationship was altered forever. Genesis 3:16 says, “…Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” The nature of this “desire” has been debated by many scholars. It could refer to the dominion that a man has in regard to worship settings (1 Timothy 2:11-15) and the home (Ephesians 5:23-24). The term “desire” could also refer to sensual desires that are expressed in marriage (Hebrew 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Finally, some have postulated that this might have reference to the complicated communication patterns that exist between men and women. Regardless of the meaning, this relationship was harmed by sin just as all human relationships are tainted by sinful behaviors.
“Where are you?” is a question that God asks of those who would be His people. All individuals must decide about Christ and the redemption He offers. Joshua 24:15a says, “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” What choices have you made that have taken you further from Him? Adam and Eve transgressed God’s law regarding the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and it cost them paradise. Sin always separates humanity from God.
The question “Where are you?” implies that someone needs to be found. Humankind is described as being in darkness. John 3:19 says, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Immediately after the transgressions of Adam and Eve, God implemented His provisions (Ephesians 3:9-11; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2-3) for their reconciliation. In addition to recording the sin of the first humans, Genesis provides the means of return. Genesis 3:15 contains the first Messianic prophecy found in Scripture. “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” It should be the goal of every person to be found in Christ (Colossians 2:12-13; Romans 6:3-4) for in Him is remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and eternal life.
Where are you at today? Hopefully, you are in Christ faithfully serving Him (Revelation 2:10). If not, you need to examine your condition before God and make changes before it is too late.
