This is the first question recorded in the Bible which God asked of man. There had been no need of any questions like this before, for Adam and Eve were perfectly happy, and God did not have to seek them. They had no desire to hide from God. His own hand had planted the garden and He had placed them in it, supplying them with everything they needed, for He delighted in their blessing.
But something very sad had taken place. Adam and Eve had sinned. They had listened to the voice of Satan and had eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God had forbidden. They now had a sinful fallen nature, and when the Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day their first thought was to hide from Him. They soon found a hiding place among the trees, but it was not a safe one for God’s eye can see in the darkness as well as in the light, behind the tree or in front of it.
God’s voice then called and said to Adam, “Where art thou?” What a searching question this was, and Adam must answer it. He must confess his sin and tell why he sought to hide.
Now I don’t suppose the one who reads these lines is hiding behind a tree. However, you may be trying to hide from God! You may have often tried to hide from someone whom you were afraid would speak to you about Christ. Perhaps you went to your own room, or just slipped quietly outside when one of the Lord’s servants came to your home! Did you ever ask yourself why you did such a thing? You were not afraid of the visitor, surely, for he did not want to harm you, but somehow you felt afraid. Do you know that you hid for the same reason that Adam hid? You have sinned, and you are afraid of God if you are not saved. Moreover, you don’t like anyone to make you feel that God is near. Perhaps you don’t mind thinking of God at a distance, but somehow you are afraid to meet Him. It is your sins that make you afraid, and you will always be afraid until your sins are gone.
Dear friend, God says to you, as He said to Adam that day, “Where art thou?” If you are not saved you are lost. You are away from God; an alien by birth and an enemy by choice. You may be kind to your fellow man, you may have a lovely disposition and be ready to help in every good cause. Indeed many other nice things could perhaps be said about you—yet you are lost and far from God if you know not Christ as your Saviour. Unless you have taken your true place as a sinner and been “reconciled to God by the death of His Son,” you are His enemy. (Rom. 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10).) But God Himself is trying to get your ear today. He calls, “Where art thou?” He wants to bring you to Himself clothed in a robe of righteousness of His own providing and perfectly suited to His presence. Why not come to Him? He loves you in spite of your sins, and if you will come to Him today He will remove all your fears. Then you will not want to hide from. God any longer, but instead it will be true of you as of every believer, that “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” Col. 3:33For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3). You will no longer be at a distance but “made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Eph. 2:1313But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13). Reader, “Where art thou’’ today?
ML 07/30/1950