Day 722: Where are you? – Genesis 3 vs 6- 9

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:6-9 English Standard Version

In the New Testament book of James the writer says it is not God who puts temptation in our way “but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it's fully grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15) The fruit of the forbidden tree looked appealing and Satan said it would lead to them being like God, knowing both good and evil. It seemed a promise of wisdom. The apostle Paul said Satan hasn't changed since then and still “disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) He paints a life of rebellion against God as something desirable. But look at the tragic outcomes of their disobedience in vs 7-8.

The eyes in vs 7 are obviously not their physical eyes. In Ephesians 1:18 Paul prayed that the believers would have “the eyes of their hearts” enlightened, to know the wonderful hope God had called them to. There is an inner response to what we see or experience in life. Was this perhaps an awakening of conscience in Adam and his wife? Whatever is meant, we see that they lost the innocence they had previously enjoyed and now had an awareness of shame.

Even worse, their relationship with God was broken and fear replaced what had previously been a wholesome familiarity. The description of God 'walking in the garden' in the cool breeze of the day (as the Hebrew word implies) pictures the fellowship they were meant to enjoy with their Creator. In that they tried to hide from God among the trees may imply that the loincloths they'd made was more to cover their nakedness before God than from each other. But perhaps both are meant.

People often tend to think of sin more in terms of it's expressions. So we say that things like stealing, adultery, and murder are sins. But what would you say the incident in the garden of Eden tells us about what sin ultimately is?

I'd say it is an attitude of defiance towards God which is expressed in disobedience to His word. God had not given the man and woman a list of laws – but He had spoken to them, and given them one simple command. Satan challenged God's word and implied that they could be His equal and make their own choices between good and evil. That's the great divide today between people who've been saved through the gospel, and those who are not saved. Saved people long to live their life in obedience to God's word – unsaved people prefer to make their own rules.

What do you make of God's question in vs 9?

I’d say it was for Adam's sake rather than God's! The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews said: “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13) God's question surely pierced Adam's soul and spirit at that time. Adam was forced to think of what had become of him.

The same question could be put to every man or woman who is living with disregard to God and in defiance of His word. Where are you? Where has sin brought you to? Oh may we humble ourselves before God, take His word to heart, and believe on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.