Photo by Planet Volumes on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9
God is omnipresent – He is everywhere all at once, and He is omniscient – all knowing, and omnipotent – all powerful. So, He already knows the answer to His questions. However, He asks questions of us because we either don’t know the answer, haven’t thought about the answer, or don’t want to face up to our mistakes. God asks a multitude of different questions for different reasons, and in this series, we will study fifty-two of them.
When Adam and Eve committed the first sin by disobeying God’s command, they hid. God asks Adam and Eve “Where are you?,” not out of curiosity, or because He couldn’t find them, He asked so they would confess their sin.
‘Where are you’ is a question we should ask ourselves every day and even more than once a day. Surely it should be included in our morning meditation time with God. In self-examination before morning prayers is a prime time to ask ourselves where we are in our walk with God, in our attitude, and acts of gratitude.
In times we feel tempted to sin, or fall into sin, it is a question we can ask ourselves. For sin takes us further than we want to go and keeps us there longer than we want to stay. It is a question the prodigal son asked himself before going home. However, it is usually a question that we ask after it’s too late.
It is a question God will ask when we stop coming to Him in prayer or when our shame gets to the point where we are willing to hear His voice. If we wait until God has to ask this question then we can be assured consequences of His mercy and judgement will follow. In Adam and Eve’s case, in mercy, an animal was sacrificed to cover their nakedness. In judgement they were expelled from the garden. Work became hard and childbearing would be painful.
The consequences of sin are many, but God’s mercy covers us once we ask for forgiveness, repent, and return to a life in Christ. Just like the story of the prodigal son God will come running to greet you. Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep is also appropriate as well. He will come looking for you, asking “Where are you?” and rejoice when you are found.
If you are looking for a way to stay on the path, then it is time to start a journal. One day each week write this question down. Then, in prayer answer the question honestly with yourself and to God. As we progress through the fifty-two questions God asks use your journal to answer those questions.
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. John 14:15-17a
Contemplation: Do you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? If not, where are you?
