How Hide and Seek Leads to Blame and Shame
“Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 (NIV)
If you may be among those who began the New Year with the challenge to read through the Bible did you noticed how many questions God asked in just the first four chapters of Genesis? “Where are you?” “Who told you?” … “Have you eaten from the tree?” … “What have you done?” That was just in Genesis 3. Then to Cain, God asks, “Why are you so angry?” … “Where is your brother?” … “Where is Abel?” … “What have you done?” (Genesis 4)
If God is God, and He is, then these questions obviously were not asked for His benefit but for man. Look at the first question again, “Where are you?” It was God’s way of bringing man out of hiding? Though Eve had been deceived, Adam had acted in willful disobedience to God’s command. Shame, remorse, guilt, and fear had all led man into hiding. Yet there was no place to hide from God; there never is.
Are you hiding today? It’s been said that we all have three lives; a public life that others see; a private life that is personal and intimate as in a marriage relationship; and a secret life, hidden from everyone else. It’s in the secret life that Satan has advantage, especially when we chose to keep it secret by trying to hide it from God and others. The power of secret sin is in its secrecy. Once exposed to the light, it loses its power and control over us. That’s why Proverbs 28:13 (TEV) says, “You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.”
How tragic that instead of confessing their sin, Adam and Eve tried to play Hide and Seek with God. When that didn’t work, they played the Blame and Shame game. Even Cain, when given counsel by God about his anger, refused to repent and yielded to the sin that would make him a murderer.
The choice is ours. Don’t let secret sin control you any longer. You can be free of guilt, shame, and the bondage of controlling sin. How? Confess it, don’t repress it. Bring it into the light. The first step to healing is revealing it. Tell God what He already knows but tell Him from the brokenness of your heart with a desire to repent and turn from your sin. God longs to hear your heart and heal it. Quit blaming others and take responsibility for your own actions. You will find mercy, not judgment from the God who loves you. Isn’t it time to quit hiding? So, where are you today in your relationship with God? There’s more, so much more, that He has in store for you. When you get honest with God, you’ll discover the much more He has for you.
I’m so tired of playing Hide and Seek with You, God. It only turns into Blame and Shame. Today, I open my heart to You. Forgive my willful sin. Cleanse my heart and restore that fellowship with You for which You made me to enjoy. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.