The Garden in the cool of the day

This morning, I was sitting outside listening to the birds chattering, the leaves rustling, and the other noises that are about on an early Monday morning. Genesis 3:8a (ESV) says "And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day..."

This passage hurt me and calmed me at the same time. There was a time when God, in His magnificence, walked in the Garden. This sound wasn't the wind rustling the leaves, birds chirping, or the water babbling in a nearby stream. This sound was God walking in the Garden. Oh, what a gift that would be!! To be walking with God in the Garden. To hear Him approach. To be THAT close.

Then comes the rest of the verse: "and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden." They were in the Garden with God. They couldn't enjoy "the cool of the day" with God. Their sin caused them to lose their joy and wallow in guilt. They hid in their guilt. How far they had fallen. From walking with God in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden to hiding in fear.

But this morning, we can come back to the cool of the day in the garden with God. Because we know Jesus. Because God came to the fallen earth (the Garden was gone) to replace our guilt with salvation. I wonder how often we hide in the garden instead of walking with God. How often to we wallow in guilt, shame, darkness? We don't listen for God, except in fear. But God comes to meet us. We just have to listen and expect Him. We have to look for Him asking for and expecting forgiveness. God will be there in the cool of the day with us.

Dear Father, forgive us yet again for hiding in our sin. Give us the grace we need to come to you anticipating Your presence and forgiveness. Thank you so much for the cool of the day, Your presence and salvation. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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