Do you know the feeling? The feeling of being interested in someone. No, I mean REALLY interested in them. That kind of interest where you can’t get enough of them and you want to know all there is to know about them. I’m not talking stalker-level here, just genuine healthy interest. You must read every social media post by them or about them. What are their likes? Their dislikes? What music do they enjoy? What movie genre is their favorite? Do they have a hobby? What do they enjoy doing to relax?
In Genesis 3, we are in the thick of the moment when sin first entered God’s perfect creation. There is so much going on with the conversation between Eve and the serpent, and then Adam having a bite of the fruit as well, not to mention the interaction they are about to have with God because they know they’ve disobeyed Him. With all of these dramatic events unfolding, it can be easy to miss that in the middle of it, we have gotten a glimpse of our Holy Lord enoying a little relaxing time.
This Magnificent King lives in a glorious place called heaven, but He created this universe and when He was finished, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31 NIV). So good, in fact, that on this day in particular, He came down from heaven and decided to just take a relaxing walk around the place He had created. Adam and Eve had made coverings for themselves out of leaves and then they heard, “the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8 NIV). When you peel away everything else that is going on in the garden with Adam, Eve, and the serpent, what is God doing? The verse makes a point to tell us it’s the cool of the day. It’s pleasant, it’s a perfect, gorgeous garden, and God is enjoying a walk in it.
I don’t know about you, but I love nature. I love how the air smells right after a light rain has passed through or when the grass has just been mowed. The indescribable grandeur of the mountains of Colorado, the snow-white beaches in Florida, the beauty of the sunset seen from the desert in New Mexico. It’s thrilling to be out in His handiwork to me. Can’t you just close your eyes and picture God in that moment? I imagine Him smelling the cool air, looking at the spectacular foliage the garden must have had – maybe touching the silky-soft petals, listening to a bird sing and knowing the tune by heart. And smiling. I picture God smiling at this “good” creation He made and completely enjoying it.
Yes, He knew what was going on over there with Adam and Eve, and all of this perfection was about to be over for the time being and He knew that too. I know He was probably very saddened by the events unfolding. But I love taking a moment and reading that portion of Genesis 3:8 where our Omnipotent Father, who can ride on a comet if He wants to, decided He wanted to just go for a nice walk around a garden on Earth in the cool of the day.