Genesis 3 "Adam, where are you?"

S = Genesis 3:8-11 ^“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?” ¹⁰ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” ¹¹ He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”

O = There are so many things to be noticed in this chapter, but there are a few things that capture my attention today in regards to this chapter on the “fall of man” into sin. It changed all of creation, but it didn’t change God. Having our eyes “opened” actually brought about a distorted view that actually blinded us to many obvious things. It is not hard to see as we read that both human reasoning and relationships were both tragically twisted that day in the garden.

1. Sin can never be explained away. Our excuses, denials, and minimization never work with God. There is always a penalty (v.14-19), and there is always a need for a redeemer (promised in 3:15). That we cannot save ourselves is clear even from the beginning. All our best efforts are no more effective than fig leaves sown together.
2. Redemption (or reclamation) comes through sacrifice (v.21). God sacrificed animals to clothe them, but animals just cover guilt and that only temporarily. The whole of the Old Testament narrates God’s commitment to restore his people, speaking of the Redeemer that would one day come. The prophet Isaiah wrote of God’s rescue plan, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6)  And the apostle Paul, in the New Testament echoes this idea, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8) Christ removes our sin and guilt completely and brings us his robe of righteousness. 
3. The consequences God imposed were loving rather than vindictive (v. 22-24). We don't often think about the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden as an act of mercy but it was. It would have been a terrible curse for them to eat of the tree of life and live forever in their fallen, sinful state. Our loving God desires that we live forever in righteousness—which we receive only through Christ. We are not cursed to live forever in our fallen, sinful, shameful, fearful condition. There are loving consequences we experience when we sin. Scripture says that they are never pleasant at the time but that their end, our coming to repentance, is the result of God's love. The grace that God showed to mankind in the Garden of Eden is still available today (Romans 6:23)

A = In God’s question, "Adam, where are you?" (3:9), do I hear him speaking to me? I need to ask myself this question. Am I in a place of denial, minimization, or have I come to the point of confession and surrender?  If I picture myself at the scene at the cross, which thief do I want to be? As it is written in Luke 23:39-43,

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

Do I choose denial or confession, self-deception or the truth? (1 John 1:5-2:2)

In responding to the love of God in Jesus Christ we no longer seek to flee or hide from God. "For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."  (1 Peter 2:25) This week I want to be quick to confess and agree with God that he is God and I am not.

P = O Lord, thank you for showing yourself to be the faithful and relentless lover of my soul. I am amazed to see how you have planned to restore us since the beginning. Let me not forget who you are—that you are not some angry God that loves us when you can, but a loving God that disciplines us when you have to. I know that your loving discipline always works for good in me and in others, even when it is painful. May you have free reign to work in me today. Thank you for seeking me out on my wandering path, rescuing me from the pit of my sin, and giving me everlasting life!