God's questions challenge our mindset, relationships, use of resources, and futures

In the creation narrative in Genesis, God poses his first question to Adam and Eve. The setting of that question followed their eating of the forbidden fruit. Interestingly, his question did not address their reason for disobeying him, but rather on an interesting consequence of their disobedience. Something about doing what you are not to do inevitably results in a change of behavior. And in this case, of their efforts to avoid an encounter with the one whom they had disobeyed.

Regardless of the various manners by which a person may seek to avoid interaction with the undesired, eventually the undesired must be confronted. That moment eventually came to Adam and Eve. Hiding behind hastily made coverings of fig leaves, an audible inquiry from the one whom they had disobeyed echoed throughout the garden, “Adam, where are you?”

Now, regardless of how and why they got themselves into that self-realization situation, that question posed at least four important perspectives to be considered. And those four important perspectives are applicable to every person.

Notice that God’s question of 'Where art thou?' challenged Adam and Eve to become aware of, to take inventory of where they perceived themselves to be in relationship to themselves.

More: From darkness comes clarifying light, revelation of the essential, and sharpened focus

The Bible does not say what all transpired when they ate that forbidden fruit. It does indicate what they did after they had eaten. You see, what you do after you know that you have done wrong indicates how you see yourself.

Notice that Adam and Eve seemed to waste no time trying to cover themselves from their nakedness. You must remember that the righteousness of God had already been instilled in them when God created them. God sent a spiritual text message to their consciences letting them know that something wasn’t right within themselves. And, in those moments, it is a fallen natural tendency, those who are out of step with God’s word, to try to hide or cover up what we don’t want to see or face in ourselves. When we lie to ourselves, we have no problem lying to someone else. If we think we can hide or cover up the truth about ourselves, then we falsely think that nobody else will know the difference – including God.

In their effort to hide from God, the power and presence of God was, not only around them, but the spirit of God was present within them. No person can hide from God. Sooner or later, God will meet you in your hiding place and challenge your hiding mindset and your relationship to yourself and your relationship to him.

A third aspect of that question challenges us – “Where are you in relationship to the resources God has given you?

Eve had been created to be a helpmeet - a complement – to Adam. Together they were to be fruitful and replenish the Earth with other souls like them and exercise dominion over the Earth.

God had provided them with everything that they might ever need: purpose, provisions, protection, procreative power, and his presence.

God has given each soul spiritual gifts to be used specifically for building and promoting the kingdom of heaven on Earth. And God is asking us, “Where are you In relationship to the resources that I have given you?”

Consider how much our agricultural and geological resources are misused, abused, and wasted each day. That question challenges us all the more with climate change, financial, and economic fiascos. So God asks us – the Adams and Eves of today - “Where are you in relationship to the resources I have given you?”

The fourth aspect of God’s question is “Where are you in relationship to your future?”

Notice that, after all of Adam and Eve’s rationalizations and excuses, the truth still revealed that they had disobeyed God and their future was at stake.

Again God intervened. This time, he cast them out of their hallowed setting and placed them in a hostile environment that challenged them to the point of total surrender and submission to God’s word, will, and way.

God’s questioning challenge of the future for us is amplified with the assurance affirmed in Revelation 3:20-21:

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

Oh man, where are you?

The Rev. Samuel W. Hale, Jr. is the retired pastor of Zion Missionary Baptist Church.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: God's questions challenge our relationships, use of resources, futures