Hiding?

So he said, “I
heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid
myself.” (Genesis 3:10)

Have
you ever heard God’s voice and been afraid? I haven’t actually heard an audible
voice speak to me from on high. That surely would frighten me! But I have
clearly “heard” God speak to my spirit and shunned His words in fear.

It
hasn’t so much been the voice of God that has stirred my soul with fear, but
the words He has directed at me. Words such as:

·        
“This
is your sin. Own it. Confess it.
Agree with Me about it.”

·        
“You
are going the wrong direction.”

·        
“I
am working. Trust Me.”

·        
“I
have a different plan for you.”

·        
“Do
you really have any right to be angry? Let Me help you with that. The answer
is, ‘no.’”

·        
“I
am taking that away from you now. Trust Me.”

·        
“No.”

In
Genesis 3, when God seeks Adam and Eve out after they have sinned against Him
by eating of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,
they hide from His voice in fear. Why?

I
think they hide from the voice of God for the same reason many of us do. They
know the truth, but they don’t want to be confronted by it. Sadly, they (and
we) would prefer to hide in discomfort and shame rather than let God speak
truth to the situation. Can you relate?

Have
you, like me, felt the wisdom of God speaking truth to your lies, illuminating
your darkness, calling you out of your hiding place, awakening you from your
slumber, challenging your misconceptions, redirecting your path, correcting
your faulty judgment, stopping you in your tracks? And have you, like me,
resisted, turned a deaf ear, ignored Him, hidden?

Keep
reading in Genesis 3. Yes, Adam and Eve reaped the results of their sin. But
God also tenderly provided covering for their nakedness and immediately put
into action a loving and gracious plan He had devised before He even created
the man from dust so that he and we could once again walk in step with Him.

Our
God is always right, but He’s also gracious and good. We do not need to be
afraid of His words, His voice. Even his seemingly harshest judgments are
actually good.

The
judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more
desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the
drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; in keeping
them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:9b-11)

We need not hide from the voice of God. Instead, we should welcome and run to it!

Has God been
trying to get your attention with words you’d rather not hear? Do not fear His
voice or the words He speaks to you. You can trust Him completely. Let His
words minister healing and restoration to your broken places today, even if it
ouches a little!