God’s heartbreaking question

Where are you?

Genesis 3

2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

6 The woman was convinced . . .

She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man[a] and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man,

“Where are you?”

10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

The first real question we find God asking is heartbreaking, yet reveals God’s heart, His love for man. He asks Adam, “Where are you?” Of course, the God Who Sees Me (as Hagar later names Him) knows exactly where Adam is. He is the missionary God, seeking man, rather than letting foolish man go. But love requires a choice. So, God gives the man a choice, asking where he is rather than demanding him to come back or pointing out that He knows and sees Him. (So much for hiding his nakedness, we humans are so silly at times.) 

        God’s question, “Where are you?” is not for His information, but to give us a choice, invite us back. In so doing, it teaches, as many, all, of God’s questions do. He is encouraging us to think. Here, He is encouraging Adam to think about where He is. Where is he? He is in the garden, the garden full of beautiful trees abounding in fruit, specially created by God for him. Where is He? He is hiding from the All-Seeing, All-Knowing Creator God, who loves him. Man is opting out of the standing date with God, to walk together in the cool of the day. Why? Because man does not want God to see him as he really is. 

        Am I hiding from God? Hiding from my loving Father who provides for me? The Garden was Adam’s home and workplace. Am I hiding in the world, in the place He put me, behind my work and surroundings, like Adam did? Am I avoiding time alone with God because I do not want to be real with Him?

“Where are you?”