We read in Genesis 3:9, The LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?" (ERV)
The Almighty God, who is the creator of heaven and earth, who is all-knowing called out to Adam in the Garden of Eden, and wanted to find out where he was. It was not that God did not know where Adam was, but there was a reason why God checked with Adam as to his whereabouts. If we can comprehend the reason why God asked this question to Adam, I am sure that we will find answers to many of the questions that linger in our minds as well.
God created Adam and Eve, in His own image and likeness. Though sin marred this image of God in humans, we can still see glimpses of God’s image in people around us. This is why we may notice that people can still be humane, kind, loving and merciful, just as God is. God also endowed man with the authority to rule over all that He had created. As those who were created in the image of God, Adam and Eve were also has been gifted with a free will and the capacity to choose between good and evil. There was only one command that God gave to Adam and Eve who were enjoying the beauty of the glorious Garden of Eden, and that was that they should not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which was also in the garden. Nonetheless, Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s command, and one of the consequences to their disobedience was that they lost the authority to rule over God’s creation, which was instead replaced with fear.
If you are wondering why they had to forfeit this authority to rule, let me explain this with an example that we are more familiar with. Let us say there is a man who is appointed the General Manager of a company, by the owner of that company. As a person who holds such a post, the General Manager has a certain amount of authority bestowed on him. This position of authority gives him freedom to hire or fire someone, to buy, produce and sell the products for the profit of that company, as all this has been confided to him by the owner. However, the moment that the General Manager rebels against the standards or rules set by the owner, and decides to do things his own way and not in conformity to the rules of the company, the owner will surely not put up with such behavior. He may warn him, but if he still continues to disrespect the owner, the owner will certainly have him removed from that post.
That’s exactly what happened to Adam and Eve. To say it in general, all of mankind lost their authority to rule which was now replaced with a sense of fear or dread.
Fear and guilt of the past
There are so many fears that fill people’s hearts, but there is one that is dominant in many and this is the fear of the sins they committed in the past. Many people live in constant regret and guilt from wrongs that they have done many years ago. Every problem they face in life is related back to that sin from the past, and this fills them with constant apprehension.
The fears Jacob faced
A good example in the bible is Jacob, and we will study his life to see how he handled these fears from his past.
We read in Genesis 32:7, Then Jacob was in great fear and trouble of mind: and he put all the people and the flocks and the herds and the camels into two groups; (BBE)
Just to get the background of this verse, as a young man Jacob had deceived his elder brother Esau and usurped his birthright and also his father’s blessings, which rightfully belonged to Esau. Esau was therefore enraged with his younger brother Jacob, and wanted to take revenge on him. Nonetheless, as their father Jacob was well advanced in years, Esau determined that once his father passed away, he would deal with Jacob and finish him off. On knowing this, Jacob fled from Esau and landed up in another country with his Uncle Laban. Jacob was married and prospered in every way. However, many years later, Jacob decided to get back to his home country, with all that belonged to him, and this was when Jacob dreaded as to how his brother Esau would react to him. Jacob recalled all the sins of his past, and that was why he was filled with great fear and a troubled mind, not being sure of what lay ahead of him.
Jacob’s various plans to appease his brother
1. Jacob sent men to speak peace to his brother
We read in Genesis 32:3-5, Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’” (NKJV)
These are the words Jacob asked the messengers to convey to his brother Esau. He mentioned that he was living with his Uncle Laban, who was now his father in law, and that he was now a prosperous man with much herds and slaves. Observe how he instructs them to refer to his brother as ‘lord’ and refers to himself as ‘your servant.’ This just shows the kind of fear that must have gripped Jacob’s heart.
Oftentimes, to overcome the guilt of the past, many people try to do some good deeds or alms to the poor, hoping this help would ease their mind from this guilt. Charity is noble, and we have to do all we can to help those who are less privileged, but this cannot in anyway be a compensation for the sins of the past. There are still others who will undertake pilgrimages to sacred places and sometimes they will do so by walking all the way, just to inflict some sort of pain and discomfort on themselves. Then there are some who will abstain from food, and be on a rigorous fast for forty days. They will be well-disciplined for that given period of time and will give up all those habits that they think are detrimental to them during that period. The problem with such abstinence is that after that period of fasting is over, they get back to a condition far worse than before. People who do any of the above mentioned things, are usually trying to silence their otherwise guilty conscience, but sadly they will in no way be able to get rid of their sin or guilt.
The response that the messengers brought back to Jacob is recorded in Genesis 32:6, When the messengers came back to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you with 400 men." (GW)
Jacob was told that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men.
2. Jacob divided his group into two
We read in Genesis 32:7-8, Jacob was terrified and distressed. So he divided the people, the sheep and goats, the cattle, and the camels into two camps. He thought, "If Esau attacks the one camp, then the other camp will be able to escape." (GW)
The next plan of Jacob was that the entire group be divided into two, so that if they should be attacked by his brother and the men who were accompanying him, one group would be spared. Fear so filled his heart that he was prepared to forego some of his belongings, so he could save the rest.
There are some like Jacob, who deal with the sins of the past by trying out all sorts of strategies to get over the guilt and fears of the past.
3. Jacob tried to appease Esau with gifts
We read in Genesis 32:16-18, He placed servants in charge of each herd. Then he said to his servants, "Go ahead of me, and keep a distance between the herds." He commanded the first servant, "When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and whose animals are these ahead of you?' then say, 'Sir, they belong to your servant Jacob. This is a gift sent to you. Jacob is right behind us.'" (GW)
The next thing that Jacob planned to do, was to send ahead of him the flocks and servants informing Esau that these were gift sent by him. This Jacob did, hoping to pacify his brother’s anger towards him.
God does not delight in sacrifices and offerings
There are many who feel that God is angry with them, and therefore they intending to appease God, offer all sorts of sacrifices and offerings to Him.
These are the words of God as written in Isaiah 1:11, The LORD asks, "What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me? I've had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves. I'm not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. (GW)
Let us be reminded that none of our sacrifices can please God or coerce Him to bless us. If we do not repent, seek God’s grace, and do what we should to set things right, we can be sure that God cannot be bribed by us. God is Almighty, creator of heavens and the earth, and all of the wealth and splendor of this world belongs to Him alone, and hence He does not need anything from mere mortals like us.
The sacrifices that David offered to God
David was one who had tasted the love and goodness of God. He also enjoyed an intimate relationship with God. However, even David failed, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and displeased God in a big way. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David was so filled with remorse and he lost his peace and joy.
David however repented and these were his words in Psalm 51:16-17, “You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one to you. You are not pleased with burnt offerings. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful heart.” (GW)
David realized that he could never please God with his sacrifices or burnt offerings, for God was only pleased with the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart that sought to be right before Him.
David knew the importance of this, because he had sinned greatly against God, and had done many sins to cover up the sins he had committed. David initially had no feeling of remorse, as he continued to reign on his throne, until confronted by the prophet Nathan. David was completely broken, and Psalm 51 was the outpouring of David’s heart before the Lord.
If we want our sacrifices to be acceptable to God, firstly, we have to be sure that God approves and accepts us. Cain and Abel the sons of Adam and Eve, presented their offerings to the Lord. The bible clearly teaches us that God accepted the offering that Abel made and He rejected Cain and his offerings. We should not therefore assume that we can give to God some of our resources as offerings and thereby satisfy Him. The sacrifice that God accepts is the sincere change and transformation that comes from deep within our hearts. When a person comes with a broken spirit and genuinely repents of his or her sin, and approaches the Lord with a penitent heart, they can be sure that God is ready to accept them.
There are many people who approach God as if discussing a business deal, and want to bargain with God for the sins that they have committed. The Lord is looking for change in our hearts and the sacrifice that is truly acceptable to God is a broken and contrite heart, which He will never despise. God’s attention is drawn toward us, only when we are sincerely repentant and sorrowful for the sins that we have committed against Him.
Jacob prayed for God’s mercy
We read in Genesis 32:10-11, I'm not worthy of all the love and faithfulness you have shown me. I only had a shepherd's staff when I crossed the Jordan River, but now I have two camps. Please save me from my brother Esau, because I'm afraid of him. I'm afraid that he'll come and attack me and the mothers and children too.(GW)
When Jacob came to the end of himself, He realized that God was His only hope. He recalled how he ran away from his brother with nothing in his hand, but a shepherd’s staff. Jacob acknowledged that God was the reason and the source of all the bountiful blessings that had been bestowed upon him. He pleaded with God in prayer that he, his family, his children and all that was his would be kept safe from his Brother Esau’s fury.
Even today if someone is filled with this kind of guilt about their past, not only does it affect them, but will surely fill their hearts with fear about the future of their children too. If we come to the Lord, seek Him and pray as Jacob did, we will receive grace from the Lord, and He is able to deliver us from all our fears.
The amazing reunion
This was what happened when Jacob finally met Esau. We read in Genesis 33:4, Then Esau ran to meet Jacob. Esau hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. They both cried. (GW)
Esau came with four hundred men to meet Jacob, and in that interval before the brother’s met, Jacob, leaned on God. He prayed to God, pleaded with Him and sought His intervention. What happened as a result was that when Esau saw Jacob, he ran toward him, hugged and kissed him. Both of them were so overwhelmed with feelings for each other that they both cried. Those tears that were shed washed away all of their bitterness, guilt and fears.
God is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins
We read in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(ERV)
God is a just God and this is how He forgives us our sins. When we do wrong, He does not just say to us, ‘I know you have sinned and so I forgive you,’ rather Jesus took on Himself the penalty for all of our sins. The wages of sin is death, and God the Father placed the sins of all mankind on His only begotten and sinless son Jesus. Jesus willingly took all of our sins on Himself and died on our behalf, so that all of our sins are atoned for. That is why when we repent and confess our sins to the Lord Jesus, and place before Him all of our sins and fears of the past, believing that Jesus died on our behalf, and ask for His forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive us, and cleanse us thoroughly.
How long can we continue with this sense of guilt about our past, and live with regret over past mistakes and wrong choices that we made? Let us let go of the past and be reminded that our Lord is willing to forgive and cleanse us, if we are willing to confess our sins to Him.
We read in Isaiah 1:18, "Come on now, let's discuss this!" says the LORD. "Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow. Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool. (GW)
I imagine this scene as we being beckoned to heaven’s court of justice. God calls us to come to Him and discuss this matter with Him. The Lord guarantees us that no matter how sinful we have been, that He can cleanse us, so we can be completely rid of them. As Jesus took our sins on that cross of Calvary, He alone has the authority to forgive us of all our sins. Even if our sins are bright red or dark red like crimson, the Lord is able to make them as white as snow or white as wool.
The question that God asked Adam at the Garden of Eden, is the question that God is asking each one of you, saying, “Where are you?” There is a Way that God has prepared for you. You need to be willing to accept Jesus in your heart and believe that He died, rose again for your sins and that He lives to be with you forever. Jesus took our sins, wrong-doings and curses and He alone can change our lives. None of our human efforts can accomplish this for us. If you come with penitence to His feet, He will forgive your sins and will give you a clean slate, so you can move on with no guilt or fear from the past.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
