“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?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'” (Genesis 3:8-10, NIV)
In this passage, we see the dawn of fear in human hearts as Adam and Eve hide from God in the Garden of Eden. The first recorded instance of fear in human history was not due to an external threat but a consequence of disobedience. Sin caused them to be fearful and hide from God, who had previously been their source of comfort and security.
Their fear led to separation. Instead of walking with God in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve hid among the trees. The peace and tranquility of Eden were shattered by the anxiety and dread of being discovered by God. Their fear, born out of guilt and shame, created a barrier between them and their Creator.
When God calls out, “Where are you?” it’s not because He doesn’t know where they are hiding. It’s an invitation for Adam and Eve to come out of hiding, to confront their fear, and to reconnect with Him. Even in their disobedience and fear, God reaches out to them. This act reveals the heart of God who, despite our fears and failures, continually seeks us out and invites us into His presence.
Today, many of us might be hiding in fear because of past mistakes, feeling ashamed and unworthy. Like Adam and Eve, we might be afraid that our sins will be exposed. But just as God sought Adam and Eve, He seeks us too. Our fear does not deter Him. God’s love for us is more profound than our deepest fears.
As we journey this week, let’s remember that even in the midst of our fear and failure, we have a loving God who seeks us, who calls out to us, “Where are you?” He invites us to step out of our fear-filled shadows into the liberating light of His forgiveness and grace.
Wonder in the Word
In what areas of your life might you be hiding from God because of fear or shame, and how can you respond to His loving call today?