Caught of God

Recently I revisited Genesis 3, where God came to meet with Adam in the garden. It says “…He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” This said with such ease, as if it where a daily occurrence. Can you imagine  God taking a stroll in your backyard? Yet today, this was no casual stroll. You see, Adam and Eve had just eaten from the only tree that God planted a sign in front of ‘no eateth.’ Sure enough, our ancestors of all ancestors duth eat! Now they were hiding. Hiding from God.

Next, hear the very love and compassion of God, “But the LORD God called to the man…” God asks one of the most important questions ever stated in the Bible, in my estimation, “Where are you?” God being all-knowing, He knew exactly where they were. The question was not intended to find the answer, it was intended for … Adam. “Where are you?” This spurred Adam to consider his location … he was hiding, placing intentional distance between he and his God. His situation… he disobeyed. His fear … “I heard You in the garden, I was afraid.”

“But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?'” God was pursuing Adam. Sure He could have rigged the tree with a divine security system, that at the mere touch, heaven would zap Adam and Eve with enough force to turn them both back into dust. But He didn’t. He pursued them. We know the rest of the story, banishment from paradise, consequences, sweat and pain. “But the LORD God called to the man…”

God has called throughout history.  The Bible is the story of God’s pursuit of man.  He pursues you, and pursues me. He has provided every avenue for us to respond to His call. God loves us so much, that at times there is the need for Him to ask us again, “where are you?”

I have given this much thought over the past week. Often our relationship with God, is one as a child, we cozy up in His lap, but there are times we squirm out and run off and play. “Where are you?” Another question has settled in my heart, “what would it look like, really look like, in God’s pursuit of me, if I allowed Him to catch me?” O to be caught of God.  David said in Psalm 139 “O Lord, You have searched me and You know me… You hem me in behind and before.”  Saying also, “You are familiar with all my ways.”   The Lord knows where we are, He would like us to know where we are.
So where are we?  Has God visited our backyard recently,  perhaps we are hiding.  Has our disobedience caused us to fear?  Do we hear Him calling?  Can we stop and allow Him to catch us in the pursuit, and be caught of God.
 
It doesn’t matter where you are … “But the LORD God called to the man”