Hiding from God

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This sermon speaks about some examples in the Bible where people attempted to hide from God. It concludes by offering the alternative of hiding IN God.

Written Excerpts:

Genesis 3:8 ^(NKJV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Revelation 6:15-17 ^(NKJV) And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Introduction:

I think I may have shared this story before, but it aptly fits the theme of the message today.

A telemarketer called a home one day, and a small voice whispered, "Hello?"

"Hello! What's your name?"

Still whispering, the voice said, "Jimmy."

"How old are you, Jimmy?"

"I'm four."

"Good, is your mother home?"

"Yes, but she's busy."

"Okay, is your father home?"

"He's busy too."

"I see, who else is there?"

"The police."

"The police? May I speak with one of them?"

"They're busy."

"Any other grown-ups there?"

"The firemen."

"May I speak with a fireman, please?"

"They're all busy."

"Jimmy, all those people in your house, and I can't talk with any of them? What are they doing?"

"Looking for me," whispered Jimmy.

Hiding, whether in a game or as a prank, has been a longtime favorite activity for kids and even some adults. Sadly, there are plenty of people who think they can hide from God. The Scripture reading earlier gave one of the accounts in the Bible of humans attempting to hide from God. Interestingly, not only does the first book of the Bible have an account of attempted hiding, but the last book of the Bible gives a description also of humans trying to hide from God.

Several years ago I heard someone speak on this topic using the reference in Genesis and the one in Revelation. I made note of the references at that time and I felt impressed to use them for our consideration today.

In the message today I want to consider the reasons why people choose to hide from God, the methods people use to hide from God, and benefits of hiding from God.

I.          Why do people hide from God?

The passage in Gen. 3 describes Adam and Eve hearing the “voice” (sound) of God as He comes to commune with them in the “cool” (wind) of the day.

Guilt – Not only a feeling of guilt, but under the reality of guilt. They understood that they had violated the command of God.

Shame – They knew they were naked… Compare with 2:25 – “they were both naked… and were not ashamed.”

The word “naked” used in 2:25 is slightly different than the word used in 3:8. They have the same root word, but just enough different that some authors feel there is an extra implication of “spiritual nakedness” intended with the second word. Others have also used additional passages to show that the second term implies the assumption of punishment or judgment. 

Fear – Probably uncertain of the consequences. God had stated it would be death, but what did that mean to them? Death had not yet become a part of their human experience.

Fear is vividly portrayed in the Rev. 6:15-17 passage we referred to earlier.

All of these descriptions are brand new experiences for Adam and Eve. They had never known guilt, so consequently they had not experienced shame or fear.

There may be many reasons why people hide from God. But the important fact is that they mostly want to avoid exposure for what they’ve done or identifying who they are.

II.        How do people hide from God?

By man-made substitutes (e.g. clothes from fig leaves).

The fig leaves were not sewed together primarily to hide them, but to cover their nakedness which had become the source of their shame. In addition to sewing the leaves together, they tried to find a hiding place in the surrounding landscape.

By doing good deeds – The rich young ruler. (Lk. 18:18-23)

All of these things I’ve mentioned can be duplicated by the things we immerse ourselves into in order to “hide.” Or, to make us think we’re hiding. We hide out in all types of activities that keep us busy and occupied, so we don’t have to face up to our actions, or admit our true nature.

Men still try to hide from God by turning away from Bible reading, forsaking worship services, and by pretending to be so busy that they have no time for thoughts of God. Ahab tried to hide from God in the battle, but the arrow of God found him anyway. Jonah tried to flee from the "presence of Jehovah," but the eyes of the Lord were upon the wide seas, and God found him just the same.
(Coffman Commentary: Genesis: Vol. 1.)

Some people “hide” not only by staying away from church but some also “hide” by going to church.

III.       What are the benefits of hiding?

There are no benefits. Hiding does no good. No matter what our reasons or means, we must understand that God sees us and knows all about us.

Psalm 139:12 (NKJV) ¹²  Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

Jeremiah 23:24 (NKJV) ²⁴  Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the LORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD.

Amos 9:3 (NKJV) ³  And though they hide themselves on top of Carmel, From there I will search and take them; Though they hide from My sight at the bottom of the sea, From there I will command the serpent, and it shall bite them;

The context of the passage we’ve noted in Rev. 6 indicates that attempting to hide from the face of God will not work.

In Genesis, if God already knew where they were, why did He ask? Some authors believe it illustrates the fact that God doesn’t drive anyone to come, but He draws us out with tender entreaties. He gets us to start back into the right place by getting us to admit where we are and why we’re there.

Conclusion:

Recommended Solution? Hiding in God.

So what do we do?

We need to be in the right relationship with Him so the guilt, shame and fear are gone.

God comes seeking us, not because He doesn’t already know where we are, but to draw us out of hiding to Himself.

God comes seeking us with love, forgiveness and a “clean slate.”

God replaces their inadequate clothes of leaves with coats of animal skins.

There is no place in Scripture where it elaborates on the obvious implications of this fact – an animal had to be killed to obtain the skins.

The slaying of the animal would have provided the first instance of bloodshed.

The word used for coats (coverings) of skins is very similar to the Hebrew word for atonement.

God has made an atonement for our sins through the sacrifice of His own Son, which completely removes our guilt and fear. When we seek and receive his forgiveness for our sins, and all the things we have tried to cover up, then we begin to discover that He actually becomes our hiding place, rather than One we hide from.

Psalm 17:8 (NKJV) ⁸  Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,

Psalm 27:5 (NKJV) ⁵  For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 32:7 (NKJV) ⁷  You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 119:114 (NKJV) ¹¹⁴  You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

If there is anyone here today that has been hiding from God and hoping your sins and your attitudes won’t be exposed, I have bad news and good news for you. The bad news is that if you persist in that frame of mind long enough there will come a day when you will be exposed by the judgment of God. Jesus tells us that there is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed.

The good news is…

Jesus Christ, who already knows who you are and where you are, can provide total forgiveness and freedom from the guilt, shame and fear that torment you. If you will admit your need for His grace, seek His forgiveness, and surrender your life completely to Him, you will discover a new hiding place from all the torments, accusations, and harassment from the Devil.

For our closing hymn today I want to sing an invitation song in order to give an opportunity for anyone to come out of hiding and let Jesus clothe you with His righteousness and salvation.

Pass Me Not