The Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” - Genesis 3:9

When two teenage boys heard the sound of their parents’ car pull into the driveway, they panicked. How would they explain the mess in their house? Their dad’s instructions had been clear that morning as their parents left for the day: no parties, no rowdy friends. But some unruly friends came and the boys let them stay. Now the house was trashed and the boys were afraid. In fear, they hid.

Maybe that was how Adam and Eve felt after they disobeyed God and then heard the sound of Him approaching in the garden of Eden. In fear, they hid. “Where are you?” God called (Genesis 3:9). Adam responded, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (v. 10). Sin makes us feel afraid.

Did you know that we can’t hide from God? He knows exactly where we are. If we’ve messed up, the best thing for us to say to Him is this: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).