Genesis 3:9 tells us that right after Adam and Eve’s disobedience, the Lord God called to Adam and said, “Where are you?” These are the very first words God speaks to humanity after the fall—after that moment when everything changed. And how we hear this question can change everything.
A seminary professor once had his students read this verse, and most of them read it as if it were a scolding, like a police officer catching a thief. But the professor corrected them. He said, “This isn’t the voice of judgment; it’s the voice of love.” Imagine that! Here we have a Father who, instead of reacting with wrath or anger, is searching with a broken heart. It's the voice of a loving Father, heartbroken over the separation between Him and His children.
Think about it: God knew exactly what Adam and Eve had done. He knew the whole story, every bit of shame, every ounce of guilt they felt. He knew where they were physically, but He also knew where they were spiritually—lost, afraid, hiding in their shame. And yet, God didn’t come storming in, shouting or condemning. He came searching for them. He asked, “Where are you?” because He was looking for His beloved children, not to punish, but to restore.
Just like Adam and Eve, we all have moments where we hide. We hide in our shame, in our regrets, in our mistakes. We think that God sees us as unworthy, that He’s disappointed, that maybe He’s turned His back on us. But, friends, that’s not the God we worship. Our God is a Father who runs toward His children, even in their darkest hour. When He sees us stumbling, He doesn’t turn away—He opens His arms wider.
So, don’t stay hidden. Don’t let the weight of shame keep you distant from the One who loves you. Step out into the light of His grace. God’s arms are open wide, ready to embrace you. No matter how far you think you’ve fallen, no matter how big the mistake, our Father is searching for you, calling out, “Where are you?” Not to condemn you but to bring you back home. To heal you, to restore you, and to offer you a fresh start, a new beginning
