Main Thought
The Bible tells the story of humanity’s long game of hide and seek with God. God created people in His image to enjoy a relationship with Him. Adam and Eve experienced perfect love, joy, and blessing in God’s presence. But when sin entered the world, shame followed. Instead of running toward God, humanity started hiding from Him. Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. People have been doing the same thing ever since. We use pleasure, possessions, reputation, skepticism, success and more to hide from God and cover our shame.
God did not abandon us in our hiding. He came to seek us. God’s immediate response to sin was to look for those who rejected Him. His search was fully realized in Jesus Christ. Jesus revealed God’s heart, dealt with sin and shame on the cross, and invited us back into a relationship with Him. We no longer need to hide because of what Jesus has done. Now, it’s our turn to seek God. As Jesus told the first disciples, “Come, and you will see.” When we respond to His invitation and pursue Him - by any means - we discover that the God who sought us first is the one we’ve been looking for all along.
Main Passages
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
- Genesis 3:6-8
9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
- Genesis 3:9
…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Hebrews 12:1b-2
Discussion Questions
Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves after they sinned. What are some modern “fig leaves” people use to hide shame or insecurity?
How have you seen signs of God pursuing people (even yourself), even if we are far from Him?
What practical steps help you make space to pursue God in the middle of a busy life?