The Hiding Game

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 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. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:1-13

My son Jonah absolutely loves his bedtime routine, which through the years has become more and more elaborate. Mark takes the more normal parts—shower, pajamas, Bible story, prayer, teeth brushing, etc. Then comes the less normal, where I come in.

First I chase Jonah from the kitchen to my bedroom, which he finds incredibly exciting for some reason. Perhaps because I always lose. Then he goes into his bedroom, where he hides. Jonah sometimes hides very well. Other times, while much of his body is out of view, his leg or the very top of his head will show. As we search, Mark and I will have to pretend we don't notice so the game can be extended. And Jonah, when "found," always pops out of his hiding place happy as can be. He is tickled by the whole game because he is convinced he is a very great hider.

I too, like Jonah, have played hiding games. While not literally crouching behind bushes or trees, like Eve I have tried to cover up sin with denial and excuse making. However, just as God saw and heard everything in the Garden of Eden, I too have never truly hidden even the smallest secret from God. 

How thankful I am for the deep love and thorough forgiveness that are mine in Christ. Because of it, rather than running and hiding from God, I can run to Him. No games are ever necessary, so I never have to be like Jonah—hiding on the top of a bookcase with a leg sticking out!

See Being True to My First Identity.

See Couch Surfing—Liberian Style.