Hiding in the bushes

Genesis 3:8-10
(8) 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.
(9) Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"
(10) So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and hid myself.

     So I have to ask... have you ever found yourself trying to hide from God?  I mean even though we know we can't, we do it anyway.  I know I have.  When I read these verses I'm reminded of my own sin and the shame that I experience as I'm hiding hoping that God will just simply walk by and let me be.  Please Lord God, don't acknowledge me right now!  But then what happens? Hey Steve, "Where are you?"

     I think it's important to note that any sin we commit can not be covered up or hidden from the Lord God.  In Adams case he was actually naked, unclothed, and it wasn't until he ate of the forbidden fruit that he saw his nakedness. We know this from Genesis 3:7 as they both tried to cover their nakedness with fig leaves.  Adam wasn't hiding from God because he was embarrassed to be naked in front of God, Adam was hiding because he was ashamed of his sin against God and his nakedness was confirmation of that fact.  Adam is also very afraid of God.  Adam knows he's in trouble and he knows the wrong he's committed.  Have you ever been there?  I have.

First lesson here... We can't hide our sin from God!  Sin is like being stripped naked.  It's out there for God to see.  We are exposed.

     In Genesis 3:9 God asks of Adam, "Where are you?" Why do you think he asked this question?  It's certainly not because God doesn't know where Adam is hiding. God ask the question so that Adam will have to answer and admit to what he'd done.  God convicted Adam of his sin just like He does you and I when we sin.  Ultimately God through his questioning got Adam to tell him he was naked and afraid of God finding this out. In Genesis 3:10,11 we see that God asks Adam how he knows he's naked?  God asks, "Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"  Adam finally says to God that he ate of the fruit, but not until after blaming a couple of people first.  He blames the woman for giving him the fruit to eat, and honestly he blames God for giving him the woman.  Genesis 3:12 Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.  It's like, yes I did it, but if you hadn't given me that woman I wouldn't be in this situation right now.  It's hard to admit or acknowledge our sin to God isn't it? Especially if we're hiding.  In Genesis 3:13 we see that God also ask of Eve what happened and she explains that the serpent had deceived her and she ate.

Second lesson... We must acknowledge our sin.  When we admit we've sinned against God, we take responsibility for our actions. We admit our guilt.  Just try not to throw others under the bus when you do it... shame on you Adam.

     Well, we see that Adam and Eve had sinned and that they acknowledged and admitted their sin to God.  So what next?  Well there are consequences to sin.  We just need to know if we sin, we will suffer.  There were consequences for Satan, Adam, and Eve for what happened in the garden that day.  Now unfortunately, since we are all offspring of Adam and Eve, we're still suffering even today for their sin. God punishes Satan (the serpent) God punishes the woman and future generations of women, then God punishes Adam and future generations of men. Genesis 3:14-20 reveals how God dealt with this sin and the consequences of it.

Third lesson... There are always consequences to sin.  When we sin, we can expect suffering and consequences.  Keep in mind that sinning against God is a revolt against God.  It's a choice we make of disobedience. We will face consequences.

     Things don't look to good for us right now does it?  We see that if we sin, we can't hide, we might try to, but God knows.  Eventually we'll admit our sin to God, God convicts us of our sin so that we can acknowledge our guilt.  There's no chance for redemption if we don't admit our sin.  Have you heard God ask you... "Where are you?"  If so, it's time to admit your sin and confess.  Then we learned that there will be consequences.  People get hurt, our lives are not lived to their fullest, we aren't effective in our ministry anymore, on and on... there are consequences directly related to our sin.  But there is hope for us.  We serve a God that is abundant in grace.  He covers our sin and makes us right with Him.  God forgives our sin. Genesis 3:21 says... Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.  As you know Adam and Eve tried to sew fig leaves to cover their nakedness, but figs leaves are temporary and inadequate. God gave them skin coverings that would do the job. Covering their nakedness properly and providing for their needs.  
     I think it's amazing that right after they sinned against God, God still provides for them and cares for them.  God not only provided clothing to cover their nakedness, he provided a way to give mankind eternal life by protecting the way to the tree of life.  God didn't run Adam and Eve out of the garden to harm them, he ran them out of the garden and placed an angel to guard the way to the tree of life.  The way to the tree of life is now protected and the only way to it is through Jesus Christ.  No one will ever eat this fruit again unless, they go through Jesus Christ first.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Fourth lesson... Know this.  God loves us.  He will always provide for us even though we've sinned against him.  Forgiveness awaits us!  Restoration awaits us!  We will be reconciled.  Our sin will be covered!


     I hope these words encourage you as they have me.  I want to thank all of you for your prayers.  I went back to church yesterday evening and I had been away for quite some time.  Living in sin, hiding in the bushes, knowing I'm not where God wants me to be, but finally tired of God asking me, "Where are you?"  Finally admitting and acknowledging my guilt I went back and it's as if I never left.  I guess I realized that when you're where you're supposed to be, it just feels right.  I'm so glad that my Heavenly Father is a God of grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  
     If you find yourself hiding in the bushes, naked from the exposure of sin, there's only one way to cover up.  Call on the name of Jesus. Allow God to cover your sin and shame and then you can move on with your life as God intends.  The hard part is coming out of the bushes.  Once you do, God takes care of the rest! 

God bless you.