Where Art Thou!

“Where art Thou”

By

District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr.

Genesis 3:9 “And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him Where art thou”.

OPENING:- Our text today takes place in the Garden of Eden. This particular passage is best known as “The Fall of Man”. It is here where man sinned against God and fell out of relationship with Him. Understand that we are in the condition we are today because of what happened here.

Understand that in the first 2 chapters of Genesis we learn about the creation of heaven and earth, the Garden of Eden, the creation of all the beast of the field and the fowl of the air. We learn of the creation of man, God’s command to man, man’s dominion over what God created, and then we learn how God the creator of all became an Anesthesiologist causing man to fall into a deep sleep, then a master surgeon and remove a rib from his side, the ultimate builder and construction a woman from the rib of man. He then became a wonderful giver and gave that woman to man, then a preacher and said what I have put together let no-one put asunder establishing the institution of marriage, after that He tells man and woman to be fruitful and multiply, everything was perfect in the first 2 chapters of Genesis.

When we get to the 3rd chapter we encounter the tempter, that old serpent, the enemy of God, that roaring lion that walketh about seeking whom he may devour and the devastation he brings with him in the result of the fall of man. We see, hear, and feel the heartbreak of God, but instead of receiving His wrath and judgment, we witness His Love, Grace, and Mercy.

Genesis 3:9 “And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him Where art thou”.

Ω Our text here ask a really easy question; however, this question deals with condition more so than position. However, the position is a result of the condition.

Let me establish a very important fact right here. God knew exactly where Adam was at conditionally and positionally. God wasn’t calling for Adam as in playing a game of hide-n-go-seek or even that He didn’t know where Adam was in respect to location. If that were the case then God would not be God for God is omniscient, which means all knowing.

The Bible says in Isaiah 46:9-10 “Remember the former things of old for I am God and there is none else, I am God and there is none like me Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying my counsel shall stand and I will do my pleasure”. God doesn’t operate in time, God transcends time for He created time, time didn’t create Him.

God is all knowing – omniscient. The knowledge of God is as said “Totus Oculus” all eye /all seeing. We get a good picture and understanding of this in Ezekiel’s vision of the wheel in the middle of the wheel and in John’s revelation of the beast (angelic creature) with 6 wings and full of eyes. These 2 descriptions indicates that God sees and knows all. So He knew Adams condition and position without having to ask a question.

Ω So if God wasn’t calling in search of Adam to locate him then there must be another reason for the question God asked in Genesis 3:9 “And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him Where art thou”.

First understand that this question is prophetic, when we read it, it appears that God is just talking to Adam, but prophetically He is talking to mankind, the entire human race, from the time Adam fell until we all come into the unity of the faith. So eventhough it was spoken in the Garden of Eden some 6000 plus years ago, He was literally asking each and everyone here today the very question, Where art thou.

Second me must understand that the purpose of this question was 3 fold and not location, location, location.

1.) It’s a question to awaken man consciousness to the state of their condition. It’s a wake up question or call.

2.) It’s a question of conviction designed to convince man of their sin, convict them of their wrong doing, and lead them to confession of sin. It’s a convicting question.

3.) It’s a seeking or searching question. Not one that is aimed to find your location, but one to make you aware. Example: a lighthouse, does look for a ship, but is there to make the ship aware of the condition it is in.

Luke 19:10 says “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”.