The Father in the Garden

Written By Greg Johnston

It was the worst of days. It started like any other. Full of love,  harmony and relationship. But everything changed when Adam and Eve listened to the serpent.  They ate the fruit of the tree from which they were forbidden to eat. Now, for the first time, they felt guilt, shame and nakedness. Life had been wonderful, but now they were struggling to comprehend what had happened.  Then things got worse. Amidst this confusion and devastation, they suddenly heard the voice of God calling their names. “Adam,  Adam, where are you?” Fear gripped them, and they hid.

They heard the voice of the Father calling their name.

I am sure most of us are familiar with this story. The fall of Adam and Eve into sin is recorded in Genesis 3. All of us can relate to the feelings of shame and guilt that filled their minds. They had crossed a line, and things would never be the same. Until this day, they had lived in perfect peace and harmony with God and each other. But now their sin caused them to realise their nakedness, and they hid when they heard the Father calling their name. 

When you read this story, how do you imagine the tone of the Father? Pause for a moment to listen to that voice speaking into their remorse and shame.  Our Bibles cannot communicate what this voice sounded like, so we have to interpret it for ourselves.  

For some, this voice sounds like that of an angry judge seeking Adam and  Eve to dispense wrath and judgment. They had rebelled against the Father and were now bracing for the consequences. For others, this voice is one of disappointment from a perfect parent who, no matter what we do, can never be pleased.  

How do you imagine this voice?  

When He calls your name, what do you hear? 

I want to suggest that how we imagine this voice to sound can be an indicator of how we perceive the Father to be.

I invite you to come on a journey as we discover what the Father is truly like.  Not what we might imagine Him to be based on our experiences, hurts or fears, but based on the revelation He has given of Himself in His word. 

Let me assure you, this will be a safe journey. One that will thrill and comfort your heart as we uncover who the Father really is and discover His love for us.

Further reading: Gen 2:15-17, 3:1-11

This is an extract from my free book Knowing God as Father, which is available for download at Knowing God as Father.

Greg Johnston

Greg has been on staff at Influencers Church in Adelaide, South Australia for approximately 40 years. Initially, training and working as an Electrical Engineer, Greg attended Adelaide Bible College in 1980 and, upon graduating, joined the church staff as an assistant youth pastor. He then took up a pastoral role in the general congregation in 1989. Later he became the Principal of Influencers Leadership College in 1995.

His pastoral experiences and involvement in teaching and training, both within the College and the wider church, have helped him develop a keen passion for seeing people come to know God in a deeper way.

He is a teaching pastor and member of the Eldership within Influencers Church and a member of the South Australian Executive of the Australian Christian Churches.

He and Michelle have been married for 42 years, and they have two adult children.

http://www.gregjohnstonresources.com
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The Father and the Son