We must not hide from the LORD. Even when we are the least presentable and feel the most naked we must not hide from him. The man and the woman commit a grave sin by eating the forbidden fruit. But God does not immediately withdraw from them. He does not hide from them. He continues to move through the garden. He gives them a chance to ask for mercy and forgiveness.
But unlike the Syrophoenecian woman they can't look past themselves and see God. They can only see the taint of sin. They should still be able to see a God who is rich in mercy....
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
...but instead they run from the LORD. Yes, sin is an offense to God. His holiness and sin are utterly incompatible. But as much as he hates sin he loves us still more. If we let him find us in our weakness and failing he gives us the power to repent. He gives us mercy. He enables us to overcome the sin which he can't tolerate. He makes possible holiness, without which no one may see God (cf. Heb. 12:14).
Only if we come to him can we have the grace and strength we need to live a life of holiness. And this means coming to him when we fall. If we do not do this our ears gradually become unable to here him. Our mouths become unable to speak his praise. We fear him and we run from him.
But if we are doing this now, we need not continue. Let us come to him and here him say to us, "Ephphatha! (that is, "Be opened!") Let our ears be opened to the mercy he wants to give us. Let our tongues be loosed with his praise.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
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