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Readings: Genesis 2:15-17 + Genesis 3:1-8 + Hebrews 12:7-11
Ten years ago, I was barely a year out of college. Living at home and working a retail job, I was still finding my place in the world. I had my friends and regular routines, including a practice of attending church on Sundays.
One particular Sunday, I drove my mom’s car to church. In retrospect, I can’t remember why.
I was almost to church, only one stop sign away, when it happened.
Friends of mine inside the building said they heard it too – the moment the passenger side of my mom’s blue Toyota met with the front grill of a Ford truck.
Thankfully, everyone involved was ok. But I distinctly remember stepping around the car to survey the damage and thinking, “well, there’s no way I can hide this.” I needed help, and I was going to have to fess up.
No one likes admitting they made a mistake (and an expensive mistake at that). In that moment of adrenaline and shame, I wanted to hide.
My parents responded to the incident better than I expected. From where I stood, I braced myself for raised voices, an interrogation, disappointment in my failings.
But instead, in the way only parents can, they responded with love and grace, relieved everyone was physically ok.
They showed me grace and love at the moment, but they didn’t take the heat for my mistakes. It was my responsibility to call the insurance company and described what happened.
I was responsible for handling the consequences of my mistake.
Similarly, we read about Adam and Eve disobeying God’s instructions (Gen 3:6). Their first reaction was to hide from God. Not only do they hide their bodies with clothing (v. 7), they physically tried to conceal themselves among the trees (v. 8).
They didn’t want God to find out about their mistakes. They were ashamed.
But God didn’t abandon them because of their choices. God, walking in the cool of the garden, sought them out. And, like a loving parent, he made them deal with the consequences of their choices.
As it turns out, we can’t hide from God. He knows us too well, and he knows where we run when we feel ashamed, sad, scared, or overwhelmed.
Just as our earthly parents know when we have a secret or are telling half-truths, our Heavenly Father also knows. But God doesn’t abandon us when we make mistakes. Thankfully, he seeks us out, asking, “Where are you?”
If we read a little further, not only does God seek out Adam and Eve, he also provides for them in their new circumstances (v. 21). In their shame, Adam and Eve made clothing out of whatever they could find.
The Lord provided them something better, more long-lasting, and durable. Even amid bad choices and discipline, God still cares and provides for his children.
God allows humans to act with free will. He doesn’t hamper our choices, but he does let natural consequences follow our actions. We can trust him to walk us through hard things, using our experiences to shape and mold us into his image.
Journal Prompt: Are you trusting that God has your best interests at heart? Confess to God any wrong choices, trusting that his response will be just and necessary to continue working you into his image. Where or what are you trying to hide from God? Confess the hidden things, trusting that he knows them anyway, and will respond.
