A few weeks ago, my oldest son asked me how present I thought God was with Adam and company after the fall.
He had recently discussed the issue with another family member and while both agreed there was a definite change in the relationship, my son was quick to point out that clearly Cain still seemed pretty comfortable talking with God (despite the topic of his brother’s location) while the other held to the fact that God must’ve been a bit standoffish due to the fall.
It’s a good question, and it gave me something to ponder a bit. In the end, I think there’s truth to both positions. God wants to communicate with us, and He does. But perhaps the greatest problem with our reception is the sin that separates us from God, as individuals and as a people.
Think about how God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. There is some physical presence there. We don’t know exactly what that looked like but there He is, with them. Who else was ever given that opportunity again, except Moses to some degree and he was forever changed with a permanent glow?
Because of sin, we can no longer stand face to face with God. Our imperfection cannot stand up to God’s perfection.
There’s no question, however, that God continues to speak to His people, including Cain. God speaks to His people in the Old Testament. He takes time with Noah, Abraham and others. There are the prophets who speak on God’s behalf as the world grows in population. God can talk with anyone He wants, He can. He just chooses to be more selective in the Old Testament, and again I think this has to do with sin. As sin permeates this world, this earth, we are more and more disinclined to want to talk with God directly because we don’t like what He has to say.
You can ask, would the Israelites have listened straight to God better than the prophets, and the answer is no because they’ve already had this opportunity and let it go, and the distance between God and His people continues to grow, not at His choosing, but at our sinful choices.
Now comes Jesus to set in place a chance once again to know God directly, with a promise of an everlasting audience with the One who made us for purpose. Here, the Holy Spirit leads us, directs us. Sometimes that’s as loud as a bullhorn, and other times, it’s that whisper that drowns out the world so you know God is there speaking.
God has spoken to me in many different ways through my years, and sometimes I have no idea why He chooses one way over another. It’s interesting because recently, I feel God is trying to teach me a new way to hear Him, and as I learn how that is, I must admit to times when I feel nervous that I’ll miss something important or make the wrong choice. But without growth and stretching, faith can become stale, and that’s never a good thing.
The key is to keep listening for Him. He does want to speak to you, to tell you who you are to Him and how life with Him and on His path is the life worth living.
As I told my son that day, you may just have gotten more than you wanted, but I hope it was worth it and that it helps your day. Blessings!