Creator, Father, King #41

I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.

AS YOU READ THE account of humanity’s fall in Genesis 3, has verse 8 ever stuck out to you? Here is what it says:

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. (emphasis added)

When reading Genesis 3, it’s natural to get caught up in the negative. It’s easy to focus on Satan’s temptation, Adam and Eve’s disastrous decision to disobey, sin’s curses, and all the questions this defining moment produces.

But often lost in these important discussions is another fascinating topic, emphasized in italics above: at the outset of Creation, God himself walked in the Garden of Eden.

Wow!

What’s It Mean?

Sin corrupted God’s perfect order and separated us from our Creator, but his heart’s desire and his original, perfect design was to have close, personal fellowship with his people.

Even after the Fall, God continually sought to dwell with his people and be actively present among them (see today’s verse). It’s also why he commanded Israel to build a Tabernacle and later a Temple. His glory—a visible manifestation of his holy presence—filled these houses of worship on special occasions.

The greatest example of God’s presence with his people is, of course, Jesus Christ. Two thousand years ago, the eternal Son of God left heaven’s glory, became human, and walked among us. John 1:14 testifies to this, saying, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (ESV).

One day, Jesus will return to earth in great power and majesty to destroy Satan, death, and all evil. At that time, he will inaugurate his eternal Kingdom, “the new heaven and new earth” of Revelation 21, where God’s plan of close, personal fellowship with his image-bearers will never again be broken. “God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them” (Revelation 21:3).

Look again at today’s verse and compare it to Revelation 21:3. Do you see the connection between what God will say in eternity with what God said in ancient times? His heart has always been to live with his people!

Now What?

For cool stories about how God was actively present among his people, read Exodus 13:17-22; Exodus 40:34-38; and 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, 16.

Did You Know?

Today, God dwells inside every believer through his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; also see the September 9–11 devotions).