Most of us know the story of the fall of man. Adam and Eve were living pretty until Satan tempted them and got them to disobey God. Their pride and sense of wanting to “know” led to them eating of the fruit, realizing their sin and shame, and hiding from the God that created and blessed them.
As they were hiding, God looked for them and the Bible says,
Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9 NLT)
Did you catch the subtle response of God?
It’s not what many would expect. Many have a view of God that believes, in the face of sin, He gets angry and immediately sends his wrath down upon the people. That wasn’t God’s response.
God didn’t ask them, “What are you thinking?!”
God didn’t condemn them to hell for falling prey to Satan’s lies.
God didn’t lecture them on why they shouldn’t have done what they did.
God wanted to know where they were because God wanted to be with them.
God was more concerned about being with them than he was punishing them. Sure, God did punish them… big time. Like any good Father, He disciplines His children. But, what did God want most? A relationship with them. He wanted to hang out with them.
Earlier in the fall story, it talks about how many would walk with God in the cool of the day. I can only imagine God’s heart during those walks.
God delights in being with His children.
So he made a way through Jesus so we could be with him.
He still wants your attention and presence.
He still wants you to come to him, scars, anger, doubt and all.
He still wants to be with us all.
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