“And they
heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among
the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8).
Did
God literally and visibly walk in the garden?
We know that God is spirit (John 4:24).
So how exactly could He be “walking” in the garden?
.
First, it is clear from Genesis 3:8 that God’s approach
in the garden was heralded by a “sound”
or a “voice.”
.
The verse begins by stating, “They heard the sound
. . .” of the Lord God.
.
Whatever form God took, it certainly
allowed for the physical production of sound. His walk was audible; He was
making noise.
.
The verse also mentions the “presence” of God “among the trees” of the garden.
.
It was a presence that Adam and Eve
acknowledged and thought they could hide from.
.
So, God’s garden walk included both sound
and some sort of presence among the trees.
.
Even given these two statements,
interpretations differ greatly. Some emphasize the fact that God the Father is
invisible and cannot be seen by humans.
.
According to this view, God did not appear
in the flesh; rather, He took on a symbolic, incorporeal appearance, such as a
cloud, much like He did with the Israelites in the desert with Moses (Deuteronomy
31:15).
.
Others suggest that the idea of God “walking”
refers to a theophany - an
appearance of God in a tangible, human form.
.
Theologians who hold this view point to a parallel
in Genesis 18, where God appears
as one of three (seemingly human) visitors to Abraham.
.
Another theory is based on the Hebrew
phrase translated “the cool of the day.”
.
This could be literally translated “the wind of that day.”
.
Some think this might refer to a strong
wind. If so, Adam and Eve’s reaction makes more sense.
.
They heard God’s approach as a terrible
wind lashed the trees of the garden, and they took cover.
.
God called (using a Hebrew word that also
means “to summon”) Adam to face judgment.
.
Acts 2 records an interesting parallel: the coming of the Holy Spirit was
accompanied by “a sound like the blowing
of a violent wind” (verse 2).
Also, God spoke to Job “out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1).
Regardless of whether God appeared in human
form or in a cloud, or whether He made His presence known by a windstorm, it is
clear God Himself confronted the sinners and issued judgment.
.
To the praise of His grace, this judgment
also included the promise of a future Redeemer (Genesis
3:15).
Thus began a great saga that ultimately led
to Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice for sin and substitute for sin’s
judgment.
.
Through Christ, those who believe are
forgiven of sin and receive eternal life (John 3:16).
God
the
Father chose to send Jesus to the cross to show His love and the seriousness of
our sin.
.
Jesus accepted to take our punishment, to save all
who would believe.
.
Why not receive God's gift of salvation and become His child?
.
Open your heart and say this prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me
from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life
and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was
resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in
my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to Your Word, I am now
born again.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your
will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word - the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
"WHOSOEVER shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,"
(Romans
10:13).
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