Daily Devotional For Friday, June 7, 2024

Yeah. It’s not “Freaky Friday,” but Fantastic Friday. As I told you in yesterday’s devotional, over the next few days we are looking at questions asked in the Bible. The second question asked in the Bible is asked by God to Adam and Eve. Look at Genesis 3:9b, “Where are you?” (ESV). God asked Adam and Eve this question not because He had no idea where they were hiding in the Garden of Eden. This wasn’t God’s way of saying, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” This is the first recorded question by God in the Bible. God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were physically located. 

This was not a question about physical location, but a question about spiritual damnation. The question was for their benefit. God was essentially asking, “You disobeyed Me; how is that working out for you? Did things turn out like you wanted or how I predicted?” Even though sin had entered their world and they were damned to die, like a shepherd seeking out the lost the lost lambs, God wanted to bring them back into the fold.

Several things stand out here in terms of God’s question and their response:

1. “First, they are afraid of God and of facing Him. Sin has tainted their view of God. No longer is He the wise ruler who always has their best interests in mind and who is to be trusted. Instead, he is now viewed as a tyrant to be feared.
2. Second, notice the use of the word ‘I’ in Adam’s response in Genesis 3. What happened with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was all about self and self-determination. This is highlighted in this passage where the ringing refrain is ‘I’—‘I heard … I was afraid … I was naked … I hid … I ate … I ate’ (Genesis 3:10–13). Any preoccupation with God and his purposes has been discarded. Now the preoccupation is with self” (Source: Andrew Reid, Genesis: Salvation Begins, p. 35).

Another thing that stands out in God’s question and their response is this:

“The context of Genesis 3:9 calls for a display of tenderness rather than toughness. Had God asked “Why are you hiding?” instead of “Where are you?”, His question would have drawn attention to the silliness, stupidity, and futility of the couple’s attempt to hide from Him” (Source: Victor P. Hamilton, New International Commentary On The Old Testament, “The Book of Genesis 1-17,” p. 193.

God was calling Adam out to give an account for his disobedience. Instead of hiding, Adam and Eve came out of hiding. Why would they do that? I think because prior to sin, they knew God was a loving Father and even though they were now shamed and embarrassed, they knew that God would still be merciful to them. Their relationship to God had changed theologically and spiritually. They would now die physically. They would now have to live with the consequences of their sin and disobedience. 

Their shame and embarrassment can be seen in that they covered their bodies with fig leaves. Prior to this, they were innocent, sinless and felt no shame. Now, they think as preschoolers that these fig leaves will cover up their sin and disobedience. Prior to sin, both Adam and Eve walked around the Garden of Eden naked unashamed. When they answered God that they were now “naked,” — meaning exposed — meaning we can’t really hide our sin — like preschoolers who try to hide their disobedience from their parents, they attempted and failed. 

God’s question to them, “Where are you?”, was it’s own accusation. Just like when a parent walks in on a child doing something they shouldn’t and they ask, “What are you doing?” The question itself is an accusation. 

In some way, God is asking you this same question today: “Where are you?” Meaning, where are you in your personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it growing, maturing, and is your character becoming more like Christ’s character? “Where are you?”, asks, are you being intentional to be a disciple or are you just being a church member? 

The Apostle Paul writes this in Romans 8:14, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (ESV). The Apostle Paul had been a committed student of the Old Testament. He is remembering God’s words in Leviticus 11:44a, “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy” (ESV). 

Holy — this word occurs more than 600 times in the Bible. Something mentioned that much must be important to God and it needs to be important to us. Yet, I think most Christians misunderstand this word. There are many misconceptions about this word:

First, some think it refers to a bunch of prohibitions of “do’s and don’ts” such as, “I don’t drink, smoke, chew or go with girls who do.” This misunderstanding was the Pharisees and it only makes you prideful and self-righteous. Second, some think it refers to the style of clothes or mannerisms one has. These people do not simply say “Jesus,” they say, “ J-E-S-U-S” in a long drawn out way as if said in some Southern drawl. For others, third, they think it refers to perfectionism — something no one can ever achieve on this side of heaven.

The Hebrew Old Testament word for “holy” is [קָדוֹשׁ, qados] and the Greek New Testament word is [ἅγιος, hagios] and both words mean the same thing: “to be moreally blameless” (Sources: Theological Workbook of the Old Testament, p. 787; Gerad Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol. 1, p. 88). It also means “separation to God and conduct benefitting those who are separate” (Source: W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, pp. 225–226).

If this is what holy means, then why do so many Christians feel constantly defeated in their struggle with sin? I would like to answer this question from a book your staff is reading:

1. “Our first problem is that our attitude toward sin is more self-centered than God-centered. We are more concerned about our own “victory” over sin than we are about the fact that our sins grieve the heart of God. We cannot tolerate failure in our struggle with sin chiefly because we are success-oriented, not because we know it is offensive to God. When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, he didn’t excuse it, or blame Bathsheba. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and before Thee. Against Thee and only Thee have I sinned” (2 Samuel 12:13, Psalm 51:4). 
2. Second, Our second problem is that we have misunderstood “living by faith” (Galatians 2:20) to mean that no effort at holiness is required on our part. In fact, sometimes we have even suggested that any effort on our part is “of the flesh.” God wants us to walk in obedience—not victory. Obedience is oriented toward God; victory is oriented toward self. We have a personal responsibility for our holiness. God wants us to experience victory, but victory is only possible through obedience. 
3. Our third problem is that we do not take our sin seriously. We rationalize it, categorize it , compare it to others, excuse it and even justify it. Sin grieves and breaks the heart of God” (Source: Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, pp. 2-5).

Right now God is asking you, “Where are you spiritually? Where are you with your sin? Where are you with holiness?”

Questions To Consider

1. In Genesis 3, God approaches Adam and Eve as a Shepherd going to find His lost sheep or lambs and return then to the fold. Have you ever thought of it this way? If not, what What implications does this have for you and your sin?
2. What has been your understanding of holiness? 
3. When it comes to your own sin, do you call it sin — what it is? Why or why not?
4. What God calls sin, do you OR do you rationalize it, categorize it , compare it to others, excuse it and even justify it?
5. All sin breaks the heart of God, It grieves Him. What difference will this make in you answer God’s question to you, “Where are you?”

Scripture To Meditate On: Hebrews 12:14, “”Work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I do not take my own sin seriously. I rationalize it, categorize it , compare it to others, excuse it and even justify it? I do not choose to see sin as You do — as an assault against You personally. Help me to strive for holiness through obedience so that I have victory that brings You glory. I want to be holy because You are holy. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside—Pastor Kelly