It is always significant to see when something occurs for the first time in the Bible. It can set the tone for the following of the same. It will give meaning and understanding. Like the first time a word or an event is introduced. I noticed in Genesis 2, the first “question” that we find in the Bible. This was an “aha” for me and definitely worth looking at.

The very first question that we see in the Bible is asked by Satan, “Did God really say?” The world always seems to get us to question the truth about God. “Did God really say?” Did God really speak creation into existence? Did God really say, “Let there be…and there was?” Did God really say, “You will surely die?” “Did God really say there is only one way to Heaven?”. The questions can start somewhat innocent but can quickly spiral out of control until we can get ourselves into a hole. We may not ever question the existence or the authority of God as these questions do, but do we not ask those same types of questions in our own lives as it relates to God? 

We tend to ask questions like “Did God really say…”

 …That I am really supposed to love my enemies, including that one coworker?

…That I am to respect my husband when he doesn’t love me the way he should? 

…That to lust or envy in my mind is already committing sin in my heart?

or what about: 

…That He actually has a purpose and a will for my life?

…That He has given me spiritual gifts to be used for His Kingdom? 

…That He still loves me even when I make a complete mess of my life? 

…That He is always with me and will never leave me no matter what happens?

When we doubt what God tells us, are we not doubting in the exact same way that Eve did? Did God really say? What we are really doing when we ask any of these questions is the same thing that Eve thought in her heart, “I don’t know if I completely trust God.” Adam and Eve’s sin started with a seed of doubt about who God is, which then led to disobedience and then to rebellion.

What if you had been in the Garden?

What would you have done differently?

Would you have been deceived?

Now, let’s look at the first question in the Bible that God asks. “Where are you?” This is just as important of a question, if not more important than the question above. It is asked by God to Adam, but I fully believe that everyone of us have to answer that question for ourselves. Where are you? Where are you in your belief about God? Where are you in your relationship with God?

In the New Testament Jesus asked Peter the question, “Who do you say I am?” It’s the same sort of question don’t you think? Where are you as it relates to God? What do you really believe about God? Where exactly are you in your relationship with God? There really is no more important question that we have to answer in life. 

If we doubt God on the very first pages of the Bible, how will we ever believe the rest of the Bible? It’s vital for us to believe and trust these foundational truths that he is telling us in the opening pages of his word. If you can’t get past the creation, and believe that God is the Creator, and if you can’t believe everything He says is true, then you will have trouble believing God for anything.

Gen 3:6-9 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 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. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

The seed of doubt quickly turned into the act of disobedience. Sin has entered the world and brokenness has begun. A broken creation. A broken relationship between man and woman. A broken relationship between God and man. Adam and Eve had nothing to blame their sin on. They couldn’t blame their past or their background or their childhood, or their circumstance or their surroundings.  They had no past hurts, no baggage, no fears, no problems. They had nothing to blame their sin on except themselves and the doubt that they let enter into their thoughts, even though they knew the truth. They knew the love and perfection of God. God had provided a life that was perfect.  But, yet they listened to the enemy, they heard a lie, they believed the lie, and then they made a choice. An extremely bad choice that effected, not only themselves, but generations upon generations. I’ve heard it said over and over again that life is about choices.  And sadly, sometimes we all make really bad choices at times. But, there is a solution.

Everyone has to answer this question from God to Adam. “Where are  you?” Where are you in your relationship with God? We all have a choice to believe God or believe the enemy. And when you choose to believe and fall for the trap of the evil one, Satan, there will be consequences that will follow. In this case death and brokenness. Consequences may not come immediately, but it will always come. The fact is that there is nothing that we can do to make payment for sin.  Sin must be dealt with. Payment must be made, but it can only be paid for by a perfect innocent sacrifice that can atone for the sin. Man is sinful and all mankind is born with a sin nature. There is no one that could ever cleanse himself from sin or save themselves from the consequences of sin.  A blameless sacrifice, a Redeemer would be needed to restore the relationship back to a holy God.  It would have to be a perfect, spotless, and pure. 

I’m so thankful that God has provided that payment, the perfect sacrifice, the redemption price necessary to forgive us of our sins and restore us to him. Where are you? Have you accepted that payment for your life? It’s free to all who will believe!

“For God so loved the World that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16