We recall the very first question God ever uttered in the Bible. In Genesis 3:9, when Adam and Eve had disobeyed and were in hiding, God asked, “Where are you?”
Now, let me share that this one does not originate from God’s lack of knowledge. It’s like the all-knowing God didn’t know where Adam was. No, this is a query from a Father to His son. It’s from the heart. It demonstrates love, concern, and desire for reconciliation.
This little question, “Where are you? ” is one that God continues to ask us today. Whether you’re sitting here feeling close to God or you’ve been distant for some time, this question is for you. This question marks the beginning of God’s redemptive pursuit. Sin caused separation, but God sought reconciliation. This is the heartbeat of the Gospel—God comes looking for us. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is a narrative of God pursuing and saving the lost.
“Where are you?” is the first note of a symphony of grace.
Word Analysis: The Hebrew term “Ayekka?” (אַיֶּכָּה) literally means “Where are you?” But it is more than about geography. It is a question of the heart. It can be translated: “Why are you? Where are you? What has happened in our relationship?” It is an invitation to return. So this verse speaks only a single question in the bible, it says more.
Gregory of Nyssa interpreted the query of God as an invitation to the soul to return to its Creator. To him, even in man’s sin, God throws open the doorway of salvation, calling us from sin to the fellowship of the divine. Let us consider the significance of God’s query to us.
Understanding the Heart Behind God’s Question
When God asked Adam, “Where are you?”, He wasn’t asking for a location on a map. He wasn’t confused about Adam’s physical whereabouts. No, this question went far deeper; it was a question aimed at Adam’s heart.
God was saying, “Where is your heart today? What has transpired between us? Why are you hiding from me?”
This says something tremendous about the character of God. He is not removed or uninterested. He is relational. He is the God who draws near. The God who strolled through the garden in the cool of the day. The God who speaks. The God who seeks. The God who pursues despite our fleeing.
He didn’t show up with an angry face. He showed up with a question. And that question reveals to us about His heart.His heart’s desire for relationship. It reveals to us a God who desires intimacy, more than obedience. A God who would prefer to converse with us rather than discuss us.
Throughout the entire Bible, we discover this model God inquiring not because He’s unaware, but because He wants relationship. He wants us to think. He wants us to reflect. He wants to prod us out of hiding.
Consider Jesus’ life. He never ceased to inquire. Not to entrap men with their own words, but to lead them to greater truth:
“Who do you say that I am?” — an issue of identity and belief.
“Do you want to be healed?” — an issue of willingness and preparation.
“Why are you having doubts?” — an issue which provokes faith in the midst of fear.
They are not random questions. They are precise ones. They burst open the heart door so God can come in. And perhaps today God is speaking to you— not to Adam, not to Eve, but to you—”Where are you?”
Where are you emotionally? Are you overwhelmed, tired, numb, or pretending everything is okay?
Where are you spiritually? Are you growing, coasting, or drifting?
Where are you in your walk with Me? Are you near or far? Are you hiding something? Are you listening for My voice or tuning Me out?
This is not a question of shame. This is an awakening question. God’s questions always call us in. They are never accusatory—unless you consider accusatory to mean judging ourselves. They are relational. He wants to walk with you again. He wants to talk with you again. He is not here to chase after you in anger but to call you in love.
So. Stop. Listen. And answer honestly. Where are you, really?
God’s Questions Reveal the Secret Places of the Heart
Let’s talk for a moment about something we all do—hiding. When Adam and Eve had sinned, what did they do first? They tried to cover themselves. They took some fig leaves and sewn them up and then proceeded to hide behind the trees.
Why?
Because they felt naked. Because they knew they had disobeyed, and standing before God was no longer safe. It was scary. And you know why? We do the same thing today.
We’re not behind trees anymore, we’re behind other things. We’re behind busyness—filling our calendars so we won’t have to slow down and examine our hearts. We dig ourselves under our work, headfirst into our education or career so we won’t have to deal with what we are feeling inside.
We hide behind smiles and laughter and religion and anger and addiction and silence. We try to bury our shame and our fear in whatever we can find. But the real thing is this: none of our hiding spots hide us from God. And God isn’t deceived. He sees everything.
But hear this—He knows, and yet He approaches still. He still cries out, “Where are you?” He’s not coming to take you to introduce you to people. He’s coming to repair that which is broken and to restore you to relationship with Him. It’s like He’s whispering, “I see what you’re hiding. I see what you’ve been carrying. But you don’t have to hide from Me. I love you too much to leave you there.”
Psalm 139 tells us so clearly. It tells us we can’t escape God’s presence, try as we might. It tells us:
” If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
That is, when you’re as distant from God as you ever did dream, He’s not far from you. Either you’re at the top of the mount or in the bottom of the valley, He’s there. And He’s still saying, “Where are you?
Because He’s not asking “Where are you?” to shame you. He’s asking because He yearns to find you there—even in the secret places.
God Always Makes the First Move
Let’s take a minute and think about something beautiful.
When Adam sinned, when he disobeyed God and tried to cover up, God didn’t just wait for Adam to come crawling on his knees in tears of repentance. No, God came after him. That’s grace. That’s the Gospel. That’s the kind of God we have. He appeared walking in the garden, “Adam, where are you?”
That’s what distinguishes the Bible’s God from all other notions of “god” you’ll ever encounter. Most of the world is going to teach you that you’ve got to earn your way back, be good enough, do enough so you can work your way up to God.
But not in the Bible: our God descends to us.
Jesus broke it down in Luke 15. He spoke three parables—a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. And in all three of the parables, what does he do?
Someone goes out to search.
The shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go after the one that is missing.
The woman searches her whole house before she discovers the lost coin.
The father runs down the road to welcome the prodigal son.
That’s the heart of God!
He’s not indifferent. He’s not distant. He’s looking. He’s seeking. He’s calling. So when He asks, “Where are you?”—He’s not inquiring because He lost something. He’s not inquiring where you are. He’s inquiring because He’s looking for you, and He’s desiring badly to hear from you.
Some of you today might feel like you’ve blown it too much… like you’ve gone too far… like there’s no way that God can ever want you anymore. But the truth is this: God is still pursuing you.
You might have turned your back on Him, but He never turned His face from you.
You might have quit praying, but He never quit listening.
You are not too far gone. You are not too broken. You are not forgotten. That is grace—God moves closer to us, even when we aren’t worthy. Romans 5:8 keeps coming back to tell us,
“ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Maybe you’re sitting here today, and you feel far from God.
Maybe you’ve been running, hiding, doubting.
God’s question remains: “Where are you?” And it’s not a question of condemnation—it’s a question of invitation.
“Return to Me.”
“Let Me pursue you.”
“Let Me guide you home.”
For God is not yet done with you. He is not finished with you. He is still moving. He is still calling. He always makes the first move.
Revelation 3:20 is saying to us,
” Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
This is your day to open the door. Let us close our eyes and pray for a minute or two. Ask ourselves. When God speaks to me, saying, “Where are you?, What do I answer?”
Am I truthful, open, and willing to be found?
Am I in hiding from Him?
Am I open to Him, actually?
Am I available to respond to His call?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for asking. Thank You for not giving up on us. Help us stop hiding. Help us respond. We want to walk with You again. Restore what’s broken. Heal what’s hurting. And guide us into what You’ve prepared. Help me Lord to live a good and godly life, praising You constantly and glorifying Your holy Name. Amen.
Rojan Joy is a Bachelor of Divinity student at St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS), Nagpur, having recently completed his second year and entering the third year of study. He participated in the Theological Students Summer Internship 2025 organized by the Theological Research and Communication Institute (TRACI). This Sermon was delivered at the morning devotion of the 8th TRACI Theological Students Internship, 2025
Email: rojanjoy01@gmail.com