God asked Adam 'Where are you?' when he tried to hide himself. When some of us are caught in problems and anxieties they ask God very often this question. In despair they cry” God, where are you?” Obviously, the very tone of the question seems to suggest that all is not well. When God asked the question, He too knew that all was not well. The purpose of the question was not to elicit an answer, but to make Adam realize the enormity of the situation he was pushed in by the magnitude of his failure. The question hints at the rupture of the perfect relationship that existed between God and man.

God asks us also the same question, “Where are you?” It implies whether we are open to His view or have sought cover under excuses to defend ourselves. Adam tried to hide behind the trees. One may try to seek protection in external expressions of devotion and piety and thereby hide his real self. But God who sees through layers of hypocrisy asks the question, “Son/daughter, where are you?”. The real meaning is “What is your real self?”

When sin comes between us and God, our relationship breaks and the chasm becomes wider because of our reluctance to own our mistake and repent. When a person repents there is no necessity to hide. The tendency to hide or give excuses stems from the reluctance to repent. Desire to continue the good relationship with God encourages a person to openly confess. In the absence of such a desire, man tries to avoid the presence of God and resorts to eloquent expressions of devotion which may cover the wounded relationship for a while but will eventually throw him out of the secure presence of God and consequent joyful life. In this situation God asks him the question, “Where are you?” in order to give him time to realize his mistake and mend his relationship. The choice to mend or ruin his relationship with God is given to man and to us. Are we going to cling to the ‘trees’ hoping to be hidden or are we going to emerge from all our hide-outs and seek God’s forgiving mercy.

What is our response?