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1. “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)
God had created Adam and Eve and met with them daily. Everything was perfect. They had everything they could ever need: a lush garden with no weeds and their loving creator doing life with them. They had it all! Satan also was in the garden and tempted them to disobey God, breaking the rules God set for them and their relationship with Him. They knew they had sinned as did God. Because they did not understand how to deal with disobedience, they hid when God called their name. I think this is one of the saddest questions. God said, “Where are you?” God is sovereign; He knew physically where they were and also spiritually. It was the voice of a shepherd seeking out the lost sheep. It wasn’t to punish, but rather to bring them back to Him.
‘He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart” (Isaiah 40:11).
2. “Did God really say . . . ?” (Genesis 3:1)
When Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan, he showed his evilness by accusing God of being a liar and questioning His authority. This was the birth of doubt because what their ears heard and their eyes saw overcame them. Satan promised them that they could be something they could never ever become, which was God. Interesting that wanting to be God was what got Satan kicked out of heaven and now Adam and Eve were about to be kicked out of the garden.
We struggle daily with the tension of wanting to do what “feels good” rather than being obedient to God’s call no matter what it is. If we are not students of the Word, Satan will win over us every time!
“Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
3. “Whom do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
This is the most important question we will all have to answer. Your eternity depends on it. In today’s culture, the notion that all roads lead to God, could not be further from the truth. Most would consent that Jesus is a good teacher, a prophet, a great leader from his time or a legend. God never left open for debate who He says He is: God.
“Peter’s answer, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” is the correct answer (Matthew 16:16).
4. “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8)
Many of us might fantasize about going abroad in some awesome place to serve God. We might imagine being accepted into the community and seeing many coming to Jesus. For those who have chosen to answer the question with a “Here am I. Send me!” might mean to stay home and live out your faith daily by loving and serving others well; nothing the world might notice but God does! Isaiah was responding to the call not to go on a world tour but to his own people including his family, neighbors, and friends.
“Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)