Genesis 3:8-9
We have all heard in some form the story of creation. The six God-sized
days in which we went from nothing to everything. Galaxies, billions of
stars, the moon, the seas, tadpoles, butterflies, giraffes, inchworms,
colors, fragrances, cool breezes, sunsets and you and me. Six God-sized
days. Creation. There it was. And He said, it was good.
The Bible tells us that God knows everything, that He even transcends
time. So, when God saw the splendor of the cheetah’s spots, the glorious
sunrise over the sea, man and woman in beautiful relationship, He also knew
what would follow: pollution, disease, war, violence, injustice ... And
still, He pronounced it Good.
But how can that be? There is sorrow and suffering everywhere. Marriages
crushed. Infertility breaking hearts with every female cycle. Youth (and
their moms) struggling for identity in a world that glorifies staged
snapshots that only mask the true cravings of a heart . Poverty
suffocates. Race divides. It goes on and on. So, in all that, where is
this GOOD, God proclaimed?
I love my God, because He can take my hard questions. After the creation
part of the story, in chapter 3, Eve takes the forbidden fruit that is
“pleasing to the eye and promises to make her wise” (Pinterest anyone?).
And just like that, paradise is lost. They went from living in Eden *with
God*, working alongside Him, hearing His voice (with real words), peace,
harmony, relationship – to hiding from God, ashamed.
I don’t think we can grasp what they felt like. Imagine those moments when
you are with family or friends and there is just this connection. You feel
loved, you love in return. There is joy and an easy presence in the
space. Laughter, connection, mutual respect, deep love and affection. I
think that feeling times a gazillion would take us close to what Adam, Eve
and God had. You see, Adam and Eve had NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG, so they
had nothing to hide. Their relationship was complete in a way that we
cannot fathom. Even with our spouses, our mothers, our besties, we hide
little things. But to ol’ sister Eve, this was brand new. Total
connection, total love, total intimacy was abruptly interrupted.
And do you know what our God did? In their shame, in their guilt, *when
they had run away from what was GOOD, *He called out to them. He
said, “*where
are you?”* Remember, our God knows all things so He knew exactly where
they were. He knew exactly what they had done. He did not call out to
them because He needed information. *He called out to them so they would
know He was right there*. They may have run away from Him, but He was
right there within their reach.
Not much has changed. We, like Eve, can make a real mess of things. We
will run and hide, in shame and guilt, but God who is GOOD is right there,
within reach, calling out to all of us, ‘where are you?’ His call is
like a rescue rope for us to reach out and grab hold of. He is calling all
of us. Where are you?
What if we simply said, “Here I am?”
