Hiding From God
Robert Wurtz II
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. (Genesis 3:8 NKJV)
Adam and Eve have now realized that the Serpent has deceived them. Their conscience is eating away in their minds, while their heart smites them mercilessly. The sin seemed so simple, but at present the torment won’t go away. Whereas they once looked forward to the sound of God coming to fellowship with them; now they are fleeing in terror from Him. They formerly lived in serene happiness, but that is only a memory. Now their portion is abject misery. What a horrific picture.
It is important to realize that the enemy has not stopped with Adam and Eve. In fact, the Bible is filled with examples of people who succumbed to the lies of the enemy. Not always is this explained as such, but often it is inferred. What is going on? The enemy desires to destroy everyones relationship with God. Nobody is excluded. You may be a young believer or a seasoned Christian; it makes no difference. Satan desires to drive a wedge between you and God through some sin. He has many ways of doing it. He wants to get you so insnared that you will hide from God rather than running to Him.
Can God Forgive Me?
When the Prodigal Son left his father’s house for the big city (as it were), the excitement had a way of dulling his conscience to what he was actually doing. I have been told stories by people who committed terrible sins, that in the moment, didn’t seem so bad to them. However, as soon as the sin was over with their heart smote them and they began to weep. Some are still weeping, and it has been years. They struggle to believe that God will truly forgive them. You will recall that the Prodigal Son shared this mistaken notion about his father,
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. (Luke 15:17–19 KJV)
The Prodigal Son was very unassuming. We could consider this narrative simply an expression of his humility. However, I believe there is more here. This man believed that his crimes were so great, that he would be doing well just to get back on his father’s property. Think about it. He thought his father was more like his brother who remained home. His father was nothing like his brother. In fact, his father had been faithfully watching for him.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
Can you imagine how shocked this young man was to have his father react this way? It is heartbreaking to think that rather than running to God, many run from God. Some do it because they have no intention of repenting of their sins. They are not prodigal’s, they are rebel’s. Nevertheless, there are they who really come to themselves and desire forgiveness; but they struggle wondering how God will react to them. Will God forgive me? Can I ever be saved?
Hiding Among the Trees
Perhaps you are reading this, and you are wondering, can God forgive me? Is there any hope for me? Maybe you think your sins are too great. You may even attend church, but somehow you can’t come to terms with God’s willingness to forgive, truly. You’re hiding among the trees wondering what God is going to say to you on judgment day.
I’m not going to load you down with a lot of technical talk about Greek words for mercy and forgiveness. I simply want you to consider the story of the Prodigal Son and how the father reacted to his son coming home. Jesus told this story to put an end to the Devil’s lies once and for all. You can be forgiven. You can be restored. Open your heart to Him. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him […] the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:22–24 KJV)
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