Have you ever wanted to run and hide? I was an amateur thespian in high school. One year, our drama group presented the play, Peter Pan, and I was Captain Hook/Mr. Darling. In one of the more dramatic scenes, Hook and Pan were engaged in a swordfight. I had a large pirate-style sword and Peter was wielding more of a dagger. The mismatched swords coupled with performance adrenaline, and bright lights in our eyes, resulted in an accident: I severely hacked Peter’s finger! Since the “show must go on,” I wasn’t told what I had done until afterward. When I learned about this, I felt horrible and wanted to run and hide because of my mistake.
We find Adam and Eve in a similar situation. They made a terrible mistake. They chose to disobey the One who created them. It was worse than my accident with a sword; it was intentional rebellion. Even so, God didn’t approach them with an accusation right away, but with a question: “Where are you?” The Creator of all things doesn’t need to ask questions, but his doing so, it speaks volumes about his heart for us.
The question implies, “I miss you. I love you. I’m seeking to find you and be with you again. Let’s deal with this problem together because I want to help you.” The good news is that we serve a God who doesn’t ignore us when we need him most. Even when we would rather hide, out of a sense of shame or fear, he is willing to step in and help us find a way out of the trap of our sin. Adam and Eve violated their covenant with him, and there would be severe consequences impacting all of creation—humanity barred from Eden—but the picture of God seeking relationship with us gives us everlasting hope.
The story of Christmas is the continuing revelation of our God seeking after us. The God who came to find Adam and Eve in the Garden came to a manger in Bethlehem with mercy to offer us a way out. Jesus came to restore the relationship humanity shattered in the Garden of Eden. He never stops coming for us because he loves us so.
How has God “come for you” in different seasons of your life? This Christmas, how will you answer, “Where are you?”
