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The Voice
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Clearly, it was not unusual for God to come into the garden and talk with Adam and Eve. However, on this day everything is different. On the previous day, they enjoyed being close to God. Now they are overwhelmed with shame and fear. They cover themselves and they hide from God. Adam tries to blame Eve and Eve blames the serpent. What was the reason for this?
Sin has radically changed the relationship between God and his creatures. People no longer turn to God as flowers turn to the sun, but they love "darkness instead of light" (John 3:19). When God reveals himself, people cringe with fear. After the fall of man, whenever God came to speak with a person, that person trembled, whether he was Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 6:5) or a shepherd in Bethlehem's field (Luke 2:9).
John 3:19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Isaiah 6:5
"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Luke 2:9
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Whenever the glory of the Lord appears, sinners fear for their lives. There is no shelter for our wretchedness when we confront God's blazing holiness.
In their hiding place among the trees Adam and Eve hear God call, "Where are you"" (Genesis 3:9) They are afraid, but God's call is actually the first sign of his grace. God seeks them. They have not been abandoned. From now on, history will be the story of God seeking and calling while people are running and hiding.
Genesis 3:9
But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Where are we? God has not stopped calling. Not yet. If we hear his voice today do not delay but obey.
Zacchaeus was on a tree hiding among the leaves when Jesus sought and called him. Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today (Luke 19:5). That meeting with Jesus totally changed the life of Zacchaeus.
Luke 19:5
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
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