“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and
Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Then the Lord God called to Adam
and said to him, “Where are you?”” (Genesis 3:8,9)
Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord.
They disobeyed a clear command not to eat of the tree and now must face the
awful consequences, “you will surely die.” They have good reason to fear, and
yet, the LORD’s first words to them, “Where are you” are not of condemnation.
He is looking for something and it’s not their hiding place!
Adam’s reply, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was
afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself” is evasive. His fear stems not
from his nakedness but from his sin. And still the LORD continues, “Who told
you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I
commanded you that you should not eat ...?” Once again Adam is evasive, “The
woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
He attempts to shifts blame to Eve and will not acknowledge his sin, the very
thing God is looking for!!
The LORD continues to ask “where are you”? He extends mercy
before judgment.