MEMORY VERSE: ‘And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?’ Genesis 3:9.
LESSON AIM: To study how God comes looking for sinful people but never forces Himself upon them.
‘The gospel never employs force in bringing men to Christ. Its message is “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” Isaiah 55:1. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come.... And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17. The power of God’s love and grace constrains us to come. The Saviour says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20. He is not repulsed by scorn or turned aside by threatening, but continually seeks the lost ones, saying, “How shall I give thee up?” Hosea 11:8. Although His love is driven back by the stubborn heart, He returns to plead with greater force, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.” The winning power of His love compels souls to come in. And to Christ they say, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.” Psalm 18:35.’ Christ’s Object Lessons, page 235.
1. After their disobedience, what did Adam and Eve do when they heard the voice of God? Genesis 3:8, 10.
NOTE: ‘“The eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” In the past they had been glad to see their Creator when He came to walk and talk with them. Now in their sinfulness they were afraid to meet Him. Hearing the voice of God in the garden, they “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.’ Sermons & Talks, volume 1, page 319.
2. Did God abandon Adam and Eve? Genesis 3:9.
NOTE: ‘The statement that the Lord came to seek the lost, points to the fact that man was once with Him, but wandered away. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6. When people sin, they imagine that God is angry with them, and that He has turned away from them. Not so; it is they who turn away and hide from Him, while He seeks them. Adam and Eve, after their sin, “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8. But the Lord did not hide from them; on the contrary, He sought them.’ E. J. Waggoner: Bible Echo & Australasian Signs of the Times, January 10, 1898.