The Preacher’s Pen

Questions God Asks Man – Week 1
Where Art Thou?
Genesis 3:9

We are beginning a new series called “Questions God Asks Man in the Bible.”

I’ve said it many times, and you probably have too—“When I get to heaven, I’m going to ask God about this or that.” We wonder, Why God? What does this mean? Why did this happen? We often question spiritual and biblical things in our lives.

And we should—we see God as our Father, and children naturally bring their questions to their Father.

But let me turn this around: What about the questions that God asks us? If we ask Him questions, can He not also ask us some?

Throughout Scripture, God asked men and women questions—not for His sake, but for theirs. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some of those. Today, we start with God’s first recorded question to man:

“Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9)

God’s Question in the Garden

Adam and Eve had sinned. They broke God’s command, ate of the tree, and then hid themselves among the trees of the garden.

Now, let’s be clear: God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere at once), and omnipotent (all-powerful). When God asked Adam, “Where art thou?” it wasn’t because He didn’t know.

He asked it for Adam’s sake—for Adam to realize where he was.

And He still asks the same of us today: Where are you?

1. Rebellion

Genesis 2:17 – God had clearly commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 3:6 – Adam and Eve disobeyed.
Genesis 3:8 – They hid themselves.

Then came the question: “Where art thou?”

Parents often ask “loaded questions”: Who were you with? Where did you go? What did you do? God’s question carried the same weight. It wasn’t just about location—it was about rebellion.

Rebellion is at the root of all sin—whether lying, stealing, envy, pride, unfaithfulness, or any other sin. God asks us today the same:

Where are you? What have you done? What are you hiding among the trees of your life?

2. Routine

Before sin, Adam and Eve enjoyed daily fellowship with God. They walked with Him. They talked with Him. Every morning, every evening—it was God, Adam, and Eve.

But on this day, something had changed. God came to the meeting place, but Adam was absent.

“Adam, where art thou?”

The routine had been broken.

The same is true for us. God doesn’t ask for much, but He does desire fellowship. When we start skipping time in His Word, missing time in prayer, neglecting worship, it ought to be a red flag.

Has your routine with God changed?

3. Rhetoric

Before the fall, Adam’s conversations with God were pure and innocent. After the fall, the rhetoric changed:

Genesis 3:10 – “I was afraid… and hid myself.”
Genesis 3:12 – Adam blamed Eve.
Genesis 3:13 – Eve blamed the serpent.

The language shifted from innocence to excuses.

Our words reveal our hearts. Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matt. 12:34)

As a pastor, I often sense the spiritual condition of the church by the rhetoric—the conversations, the attitudes, the words spoken.

At West End Baptist, God has blessed us tremendously—souls saved, classes filled, buildings expanded, worship strengthened. But sometimes rhetoric shifts from gratitude to negativity, from praise to complaint.

God still asks: “Where art thou?” What do your words reveal about your heart?

The Good News

Even though Adam and Eve had sinned, God still came looking for them.

Not for condemnation—but for reconciliation.

And He still does the same for us.

His question is not to shame us, but to restore us.

So, let’s answer Him honestly today:

Where art thou?