The first game of hide-n-seek was played in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve began the day playing "truth or dare" with the devil and ended it playing "hide-n-seek" with God. But what they did not was not child's play. "

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam.. . Where art thou?" (3:8, 9).

When God asked this question, He was not giving up on the game---He knew their hiding place. He was trying to get Adam and Eve to see where they were. He was seeking a confession, without which no man will be saved. Solomon wrote, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Prov. 28: 13). John added, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn. 1 :9).

You might think it was childish of them to try to hide from God (and it was), but modern man has not outgrown playing hide-n-seek with God. God is still asking, "Where art thou?" hoping we will see the folly of our sinful condition, and come "out of the trees."

Behind What Tree Were Adam and Eve Hiding?

THE TREE OF SIN. Having broken a direct command of their Creator, the man and his wife had become the first to lay tracks down the trail of transgression. Like Zacchaeus, they were "up a tree." They would not be the last; in fact, every mature person has traveled the wide road (Mt. 7:13). Paul said, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rm. 3:23).

Sin is breaking God's law (1 Jn. 3:4). Therefore all sinners are spiritual criminals. It is their certain fate to be eventually arrested (cf. Phil. 3:12), tried (Mt. 7:22), convicted and punished. Adam and Eve were (3:9), as was Cain (4:9), David (2 Sam. 12:1), Ahab (1 Kgs. 2:20) and Jonah (1:6). Distance will not prevent it (Psa. 139:7); darkness will not hinder it (Psa. 139:11); secrecy has no hope of prevailing (Heb. 4:13); no hide-out is sufficient (Amos 9:2, 3); and, the lapse of many years will make it no less certain (Num. 32:23). Man's only hope is forgiveness (Eph. 1:7).

THE TREE OF SEPARATION. The text says: "hid themselves from the presence of the Lord." It is the instinct of sinful man to flee from God. Jonah is a classic example: when told to go to Nineveh, he fled to "Tarshish from the presence of the LORD" (cf. Jonah 1:3). Before sinning, the first couple ran to God, now they ran from Him; before, they had sought companionship, now they wanted concealment.

Sin separates man from God. Isaiah wrote, "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (59: 1, 2). If no changes are made, it will divide eternally. "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord ....?” (2 Thes. 1:9). Of all the horrors associated with Golgotha, this one forced a cry from the Lord's lips (as our sin-bearer) (Mt. 27:46; 2 Cor. 5:2 1).

Notice that when man seeks to hide, God seeks to find. He sought Adam with a question, Jonah with a wind, David with a prophet (2 Sam. 12: 1) and us with His Son (Lk. 19: 10). He still seeks men through the Gospel (Rm. 1: 16). The Good Shepherd seeks lost sheep (Jn. 10:ll). The loving father waited for the prodigal to return home (Lk. 15:20).

TREE OF INSECURITY. Sin steals one's courage. Solomon observed, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov. 28: 1). The psalmist spoke of those who were "...in great fear, where no fear was" (53:5). Adam confessed, "I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid..." The Israelites likewise feared God's voice (Ex. 19:19-23). Fear had invaded the first family's heart. They did not want to face God's punishment. Oh that all men might learn to fear it before they must endure it. Paul wrote, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thes. 1:7, 8). The rich man was told of a ''great gulf fixed" that barred any exit from the eternal place of punishment (Lk. 19: 16-3 1).

THE TREE OF SHAME. There is shame associated with sin. Daniel said it will land a person in a place of "shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan. 12:2). For the first time in history, faces burned with the flame of shame. This was accompanied by a new pain, never before known in the Garden. Like a knife pierces the flesh, it cut the conscience upon ever remembrance of sin. They now knew guilt.

Adam tried to cover his guilty conscience with fig-leaves, but without success. Sin is not on the outside. Many today feel they need soothing, but cannot seem to make enough money, buy enough things, get enough education, find the right therapist or say the right words to ease themselves. Others try covering with the fig leaves of a "good, moral life," but find no solace. Some hide behind excuses (hypocrites in the church, my husband/wife hinders me, circumstances are too hard), but these do not convince God. Only Christ can clothe one in white robes (Rev. 7: 14) and white linen (Rev. 19:8). One is given these when he strips himself of filthy garments and is washed in the water of baptism (Gal. 3:26-29).

Adam wanted to put off facing God. Somehow it would be easier if he could only wait. He wanted to ignore sin, but God would not allow it. Some today, likewise, try to hide from God-by denying that He exists (Psa. 14: 1) or pretending that sin does not matter. Many are "hiding in the bushes" during the invitation song; Man's only hope lies in realizing that he cannot hide from God, and to summon the courage to come back while there is hope. Paul told us: "...today is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2)

God still calls - "Where Art Thou"?