Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?””
Genesis 3:9

Again here is a chance for the man to repent. God doesn’t talk to the one who was deceived (1 Timothy 2:14), but the one who had been given the direct command (Genesis 2:16-17). He doesn’t require action from those who He has not informed of the required action. He protects us in our ignorance. He ONLY requires right action/thoughts/words from those He has informed (Romans 5:13; Deuteronomy 1:39). In the women’s commentary on the Torah they write: ‘“Where are you?” God’s first question is more than a mere request for location; it is an opportunity to accept responsibility.’

God always approaches us where we are. He always gives us the opportunity to assert our free will and respond to who He is and what He has asked us to do. He encourages us to take care of it right away. He encourages us to draw on His strength and do what He has told us is righteous and good. When we miss it, He is right there to help us through the repentance process. Not to smite us. To guide us through a restoration of our relationship with Him. He is ALWAYS there with us and His will is for us to ALWAYS be there with Him.

The sage Rashi writes: ‘איכה WHERE ART THOU — He knew where he was, but He asked this in order to open up a conversation with him that he should not become confused in his reply, if He were to pronounce punishment against him all of a sudden. Similarly in the case of Cain, He said to him, (4:9) “where is Abel thy brother?” Similarly with Balaam, (Numbers 22:9) “what men are these with thee?” — to open up a conversation with them; so, also, in the case of Hezekiah with reference to the messengers of Merodach-baladan (Isaiah 39:3).’ The sage Malbim sees it more as a question to bring the male’s attention to their fallen state: ‘Where are you. That is, where are you spiritually? See how you have fallen!’ Siftei Chakhamim agrees when he writes: ‘He knew… that he not be bewildered. In other words, Hashem wanted him to say, “I have sinned,” and repent in his heart. For Hashem wants [the wicked] to repent, not that they die. You might ask: Here Rashi says that Hashem spoke to Bilam for a similar reason.’

Andrew Wommack’s Living Commentary entry on this verse includes this: ‘I believe it is possible that the Lord can limit His foreknowledge in His dealings with us. This is why He tested Abraham to see what he would do with the command to sacrifice Isaac. The Lord told Abraham concerning Sodom and Gomorrah, “I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know” (Genesis 18:21). These and many other instances suggest that the Lord does not always use His foreknowledge in His dealings with us. I suspect that when He said, “Where art thou?” He meant just what He said. Of course, if Adam and Eve had failed to come forward, then I believe He would have drawn on His ability to know all things, just as Jesus did with the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:30-33. I suspect the reason the Lord doesn’t always use His foreknowledge is because of His nature. He told us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, etc. (Philippians 4:8). He also wants us to be wise concerning that which is good and simple concerning evil (Romans 16:19). He wants us to be that way because that’s the way He is. He doesn’t always use His ability to know all the gross things people do, because of how vilely people act. He chooses to focus on the good (Genesis 1:4).’