“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV)
You can trace human restlessness all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Satan made two false promises: “You won’t die” (3:4), and “You will know what is good and what is evil” (3:5). With these promises the serpent enlisted humanity in his rebellion against God.
Then “the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden… and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Gen. 3:8). Can you imagine the two of them holding their breath in the trees? Adam’s chest is pounding and there’s sweat on the palms of Eve’s hands. They are scared stiff of God. They don’t want Him to find them.
Their hearts had been at peace but now they’re in turmoil: “The serpent says I won’t die, but God said I will. What happens if I die? The serpent says I will know what’s good and what’s evil, but how will I know what’s good? And why am I hiding? Why am I so afraid? This is exhausting!”
We have lived with restless hearts ever since. So when Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” He is talking to us!
When have you experienced this fearful, exhausting hiding from God?
