You Don't Have to Hide: Genesis and the God Who Seeks
"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. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?'" — Genesis 3:8–9 (ESV)
There is a particular kind of tired that comes from hiding.
There was a season, not too long ago, when I was a pastor’s wife. We had just adopted our daughter with disabilities. And I couldn’t hold it together.
So I hid.
My husband’s office made a nice place to stay away from others so they wouldn’t see the version of me that I didn’t want them to see. Underneath the hiding was the fear of what people would think if they really knew the truth about me. Being rejected and abandoned was more than I could bear, so I hid first, to protect myself from the pain I felt I deserved.
But can I tell you something? Hiding doesn’t help. In fact, it only reinforced what I feared: that I was alone. My shame that I was not a better example of faith to others led me to conclude that God also was disappointed in me. I imagined Him, shaking his head, thinking of how I could do better.
But that’s a lie.
Maybe you also have been good at hiding. Whatever your reason, I hope this post will encourage you today.
The God Who Seeks
As with most Bible Survey classes, we started in the book of Genesis with creation and the fall. One thing that really struck me as I listened to lectures was the kindness and grace of God to sinners. Our God moves towards the rebellious, not away from them. He moved towards Adam and Eve. Later, he moved towards Cain in his anger. He is the God who goes looking for lost sheep. And He moves towards you and me.
Perhaps as a mom, I tend to read God’s “Where are you?” with a more belligerent tone than warranted. If my kids made a mess, I know how I’d sound. I hear anger and offense, but if I also look at God’s general track record, I’m beginning to wonder if I’ve been a bit off in my understanding.
To be sure, God is holy, and there are moments when he will act quickly. I think of the fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu or hapless Uzzah who accidentally touched the ark to keep it from falling off the cart.
But if I look carefully, I will also see that he indeed is slow to anger and compassionate (Ex. 34:-6-7; Ps. 103:8). We see this in the garden. He gives Adam and Eve a chance to confess. He clothes them with sturdy skins to replace their wilted fig leaves. Though their relationship with him is altered, Genesis 3:15 shows us that He is already setting in motion a plan that will end in victory.
As I shared in my previous post on this new series, we want to see Jesus for who he really is, not in a version that I have cobbled together. And this is one of those places where I stand corrected. Starting even in Genesis, we see a God who comes for his people. They may grieve him and even reject him, but he still longs to come close (Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34).
If you do not know this God, I hope you will allow this truth re-cast your understanding of who He is. For those who look to Him in faith, there is grace and mercy.
But if you’re like me, a professing believer, but still hiding, may I encourage you to step out? Not because you’re worthy, but because Christ, our Savior, has rescued you? You don’t need to hide anymore—not from your past, not from your present. Whatever wrongs we have done, He has died to cover our shame. He paid the price for our wrongdoing, but more than that, has given us His righteousness as well.
From the very beginning, God has always provided for us what we cannot provide for ourselves. Though I might fight against this humbling reality, not only can I come out of hiding, I can stand before Him. I no longer need to worry what others think, for God has seen me at my worst and still comes for me. There is no condemnation for me if I am in Christ (Rom. 8:1) so I need not hide any longer.
The weight of hiding is lifted. And I am truly free.
May you hear God calling your name this week — and find the courage to come out of hiding into the arms of the One who has already provided everything you need.
A great resource on this topic of hiding is Ed Welch’s book, A Small Book about Why We Hide: How Jesus Rescues Us from Insecurity, Regret, Failure, and Shame. I have recently gone through this 50-day devotional and appreciated how he has broken down such a complex struggle into smaller steps.
