A few weeks ago, my friend reached out to me saying I’d disappeared. The usual me would always reach out to check in and make sure she’s fine. When I didn’t do that, she reached out asking, Funmi, where are you?
A sister in my church shared a sermon recently and a particular aspect touched me; That I will share within this article. Hoping it speaks to you today and everyday.
The Genesis
In the beginning, God created man in His image and likeness. Genesis 1:26 records this decision: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Afterwards, God decided man needed a helper and provided woman, Eve. Verse 22 – 23 of Genesis chapter 2 documents this:
Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
Prior to Eve’s creation, God walked Adam through the garden showing him the acceptable; what to do, where to eat from, what to not touch.
Even after Eve came, the rules given to Adam, were transferred to Eve. Now that I think back on this, maybe Eve didn’t have enough conviction about the rules, as a result, she could be convinced about them. That’s a story for another article.
The fallout – Where are you?
Eventually, when the devil successfully convinced Eve and she ate the fruit, Adam wasn’t left out of the party. Unknowingly, Adam ate the fruit and both their eyes were opened to their nakedness.
All of this was fine, until they heard God’s sound in the Garden. Quickly, they decided to hide; keep in mind that normally they wouldn’t hide from God’s presence.
Verse 9 of chapter 3 says Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” . God knew the character of Adam and this was inconsistent with it. Hence the question, where are you?
vs. 10-11 of the same chapter gives a look into the response: So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
When Adam mentioned that he was afraid, God began probing to see what went wrong. He certainly found the culprit.
Lessons to consider from this article
God is actively searching for you today. He’s calling to you: Where are you? I can’t find you anywhere.
Run back to God even when you are afraid. I’d like to believe that if Adam hadn’t hidden from God and taken the blame, the turnout may have been different. Well, all assumptions here.
Adam and God had fellowship before the fallout. Even when “where are you?” was asked, God wanted to intiate time of fellowship. How’s your fellowship with God? Are you giving God time to talk to you and tell you all of His desires?
Or you’re the one always talking, never listening and always in a hurry?
Do you know God? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God who sent His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross of Calvary to redeem you after the fallout. If you don’t, God is asking today, (insert your name), where are you?
Because we’re all different, you may interpret differently from me. I pray that the lessons you have gotten from this article helps you to search inwards and answer sincerely, where are you?
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