“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8)
Someone reading the Bible for the first time might notice some things about God that are easily overlooked by longtime readers. For instance, in the story of God's relationship with Adam and Eve, there is a note that God walked in the garden during the cool of the day.
For a reader not yet familiar with the Bible's description of God, this raises many questions' Does God have legs? Does He live on earth? Does God still actively enjoy His creation?
Later in Scripture we learn that God is spirit, without bodily form, but He can and does appear to humans. still, the thought of God strolling through the Garden of Eden presents an intriguing picture. The Creator of the universe likes garden walks' He cares about His creation, and He is present and active in our lives. Bible stories like this remind us just how real and involved with us God really is.
Early Pictures of God - Part2
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lard God among the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8)
Adam and Eve were intimately connected with God, and this was clearly not the first time He had walked with them in the garden. But on this occasion, they hid from Him like guilty children avoiding a parents reprimand. The fact that Adam and Eve hid from God reveals their knowledge of Him and shows that they know they had disobeyed.
Adam and Eve did not fear a distant force or an angry dictator. They hid from their personal Creator, who had made them, loved them, and walked alongside them. They had not rebelled against an impersonal Deity, but against their roving Maker who wanted friendship with them- Today, this same God desires friendship with us.
Early Pictures of God - Part 3
“Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain" She said, With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man’” (Genesis 4:1)
Somewhere the first human newborn let out his first tiny cry. His father smiled in delight' and his mother breathed a prayer of thanks.
While Adam and Eve's knowledge of God might in some ways have been less defined than ours, in other ways it seems stunningly clearer. After all, the first couple spoke personally and directly with God. They even walked with Him. when Eve gave birth to the first human child in history, she gave God the credit. Though she and Adam had disobeyed their Maker, eve realized that God does not quit being involved in our lives when we disappoint Him.
That same loving involvement extends to the big moments in our lives too: births, deaths, good days and bid. God is always present in our human experience.
Early Pictures of God – Part 4
“But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering." (Genesis 4:4)
Sometimes the Bible is mysterious. Much like a great novel, God's Word leaves some questions unanswered. Questions that make us think harder, research more deeply, and even use our imaginations.
Scripture is clear that God looked with favor on Abel's offering. But how was Abel aware of God's favor? What did he do to deserve it? Did God speak to Abel, complimenting him on a job well done? Did God physically show Himself? Even more puzzling: Did Abel of ancient times have some way of relating to God that we don't have now?
you could imagine many different ways to fill in between the lines of this story, and many Bible scholars and commentators have already tried. Yet one point in this passage is certain: God notices our worship and considers whether or not it is favorable. He knows our motives and sees the condition of our hearts when we go to Him in worship.
Early Pictures of God - Part 5
"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' 'l don't know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother’s keeper.'" (Genesis 4:9)
Blinded by anger, Cain probably rationalized: it’s just an empty field. No one has to know. But as his brother's blood soaked into the earth, his false sense of security drained away with it. God was watching that deserted field. He witnessed the fatal blow.
In the earliest stories about God, it is amazing to see how involved He is in the world. No remote field is beyond His vision. No action is beyond His observation. God's mind is capable of scanning the universe, watching every movement within it, and hearing every thought. He is never exhausted by the near infinity of it all. God is personally and directly involved in our lives. Nothing we say or do is hidden from him.
God Knows !
by Rob Morgan
Oct 8, 2012
Early Pictures of God - Part 1
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8)
Someone reading the Bible for the first time might notice some things about God that are easily overlooked by longtime readers. For instance, in the story of God's relationship with Adam and Eve, there is a note that God walked in the garden during the cool of the day.
For a reader not yet familiar with the Bible's description of God, this raises many questions' Does God have legs? Does He live on earth? Does God still actively enjoy His creation?
Later in Scripture we learn that God is spirit, without bodily form, but He can and does appear to humans. still, the thought of God strolling through the Garden of Eden presents an intriguing picture. The Creator of the universe likes garden walks' He cares about His
creation, and He is present and active in our lives. Bible stories like this remind us just how real and involved with us God really is.
Early Pictures of God - Part2
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lard God among the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8)
Adam and Eve were intimately connected with God, and this was clearly not the first time He had walked with them in the garden. But on this occasion, they hid from Him like guilty children avoiding a parents reprimand. The fact that Adam and Eve hid from God reveals their knowledge of Him and shows that they know they had disobeyed.
Adam and Eve did not fear a distant force or an angry dictator. They hid from their personal Creator, who had made them, loved them, and walked alongside them. They had not rebelled against an impersonal Deity, but against their roving Maker who wanted friendship with them- Today, this same God desires friendship with us.
Early Pictures of God - Part 3
“Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain" She said, With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man’” (Genesis 4:1)
Somewhere the first human newborn let out his first tiny cry. His father smiled in delight' and his mother breathed a prayer of thanks.
While Adam and Eve's knowledge of God might in some ways have been less defined than ours, in other ways it seems stunningly clearer. After all, the first couple spoke personally and directly with God. They even walked with Him. when Eve gave birth to the first human
child in history, she gave God the credit. Though she and Adam had disobeyed their Maker, eve realized that God does not quit being involved in our lives when we disappoint Him.
That same loving involvement extends to the big moments in our lives too: births, deaths, good days and bid. God is always present in our human experience.
Early Pictures of God – Part 4
“But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering." (Genesis 4:4)
Sometimes the Bible is mysterious. Much like a great novel, God's Word leaves some questions unanswered. Questions that make us think harder, research more deeply, and even use our imaginations.
Scripture is clear that God looked with favor on Abel's offering. But how was Abel aware of God's favor? What did he do to deserve it? Did God speak to Abel, complimenting him on a job well done? Did God physically show Himself? Even more puzzling: Did Abel of ancient
times have some way of relating to God that we don't have now?
you could imagine many different ways to fill in between the lines of this story, and many Bible scholars and commentators have already tried. Yet one point in this passage is certain: God notices our worship and considers whether or not it is favorable. He knows our
motives and sees the condition of our hearts when we go to Him in worship.
Early Pictures of God - Part 5
"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' 'l don't know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother’s keeper.'" (Genesis 4:9)
Blinded by anger, Cain probably rationalized: it’s just an empty field. No one has to know. But as his brother's blood soaked into the earth, his false sense of security drained away with it. God was watching that deserted field. He witnessed the fatal blow.
In the earliest stories about God, it is amazing to see how involved He is in the world. No remote field is beyond His vision. No action is beyond His observation. God's mind is capable of scanning the universe, watching every movement within it, and hearing every thought. He is never exhausted by the near infinity of it all. God is personally and directly involved in our lives. Nothing we say or do is hidden from him.