Relationship

"And they heard the sound (voice, singing) of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool (ruach: breath, wind) of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.  Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to them, "Where are you?"     Gen. 3:8-9

When I found that I was supposed to write about "Relationship" in this entry, the Lord brought me to this scripture above from Genesis. I was surprised. I wrote the scripture on the opening of this post, and then I walked away for a few days. I was waiting to see how these scriptures would teach me about my relationship with our Father. Things began to unfold for me as I thought about this familiar story of man's fall.
As the LORD God walked in the garden, calling for Adam, it is understood by us that God already knew what had happened. We also discover, as we read through the account of the fall of man, that there is no repentance from Adam and his wife reflected in the scriptures. Not only did Adam refuse to repent, but at one point, Adam even directly blames God for his downfall because it was God who gave Adam his wife:
"Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate."           Gen. 3:12
Eve, in turn, blames the serpent.
I think, in any case, that there is no transforming repentance, unless it comes out of love. That kind of repentance cannot just come out of a head-knowledge of the Law. The kind of repentance that transforms, teaches, and heals, can only come from a heart that loves our Lord, our God. Along with their lack of repentance, I also do not detect, from this account in scripture, any caring or love from the man and woman towards God. This is very sad.
We can also assume, I think, that there is an attitude of resentment towards God by Adam and the woman even before this point, because the serpent is easily able to convince Eve to disregard God's instructions. He tells her that God just doesn't want them to be like Him, knowing good and evil  (Gen. 3:5). This is where their weakness lies, this is where they have left an opening-in their relationship with their Father. The serpent just takes advantage of this resentment towards God in Adam's and Eve's hearts. Similar resentment of God will have a destructive influence over their son, Cain's, choices, as well.

What is the Lord trying to teach me about my relationship with the Father from this? I looked again at the Father's attitude toward the man and wife.
First of all, when the Father comes to deal with this situation, He brings the Comforter with Him. The Holy Spirit is there in the presence of the cool breath, or wind, of the day. That speaks so much to me about the Father. Not only does He know what they have done, but He wants to comfort them in their fear of Him. He wants to minister and create into the condition of the man and wife. Within the tragedy of the downfall of man, the Father begins to prophesy. The first prophetic promise of the Messiah comes forth, as God issues judgment upon the serpent:
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."      Gen. 3:15
Yes, Adam and Eve must leave the garden, but they don't leave without hope. Redemption and atonement has just been introduced into the future of mankind, and that very redemption will come through the one whom all will blame for this transgression-the woman.
How else does He minister to, and comfort them?

"Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin and clothed them." 
                                                                                                 Gen. 3:21
The Father covers the man and woman with a sacrifice, even a shadow and type of the sacrifice that was made by God's Son. Though their own choices uncovered them, God would not leave them vulnerable, and uncovered. Rather than just supplying the man and wife with a covering, He even covers them with His own hands. Father "clothed them". Can we feel what is in the Father's heart towards the man and woman? It goes far beyond Creator and creature. He has a relationship with man. However, in this case, as in so many other cases with man, God's feelings of love and caring are not returned. He is worthy of our worship and praise, but He is also worthy, foremost, of our love.
What is my relationship supposed to be like with God? With Jesus? What are the expectations that They have? If I have a relationship of love with Them, then the Law, the Word, becomes written not upon tables of stone, but it becomes written upon my heart. I am not hiding from Him in shame and fear (Gen. 3:10), but I am turning towards Him for comfort, help, and love, even when others might judge that I don't deserve it. This love is how I "abide" in Him, and how His word abides in me according to Jesus (Jn. 14:21-23). Love is the glue and the generator that causes the abiding. The abiding develops out of love, rather than just obedience. Obedience is important, but the obedience that naturally flows from the love for His Father, is the obedience that humbled Christ, even to death on the cross. Because of this kind of love-obedience, the Father highly exalted Him, and gave Him a name above all other names. The name that Christ received as a result of His love-obedience to the Father, brought all creation into that same obedience (Phil. 2:5-11). There is a fruit that comes from our love for the Father. We are instructed to be of this same mind of Christ. Only love for our Father can produce this same mind. This is the mind from which Christ did all. This is the mind that changed all creation as noted in the above scripture. This is how Jesus described His love for His Father that produces His obedience:
"But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here."     Jn. 14:31
Father's relationship towards me is reflected by this truth:
"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears not has been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us."     1 John 4:16-19
"...And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever, and ever. Amen"         Rev. 1:5-6
The wonderful miracles for us mentioned above, came forth out of His love toward us. We acknowledge His love for us easily, but how much thought and exercise do we give regarding our love towards Him? I don't want to neglect that part of my relationship with Him.
There are many gods in the earth, but only the One true God ever desired a relationship with mankind that He created.
When I think on these things, it makes me want to speak to Him, sing to Him, pray with Him and for Him, cover Him, to look into His face, with love. I will make mistakes, and I may fall down in the days ahead, but I hope I will always remember to turn back to Him in hope, in comfort, and in love.

Our Father desires a relationship with us.

"I Love You, Lord"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw_uBn9zJfc

"As The Deer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M04P1lW4OA

"Unchained Melody"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrK5u5W8afc

King

 

"Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu, Melek ha olam..."

This phrase, above, is often found in Hebrew prayers. "Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe."
Our Father is proclaimed King in the scriptures, and His Son is proclaimed "King of kings".

In Psalm 47, the LORD's Kingship is magnified and praised:
"For the LORD Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.

Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is King of all the earth;

God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.
                                   v. 2, 6, 7, 8

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is described:
"And He has written on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, around this same time of year as this is being written, right before His last Passover, before His betrayal, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection, the crowds lined the street and welcomed Him as King of Israel, as reported in all four Gospel accounts.
This great Kingship doesn't stop there, however. The scriptures teach that He has made us kings as well.
"To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen."
                                                           and
"... And have redeemed us to God by Your blood...And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
                                         Rev. 1:5-6, and 5:9-10

There is a special meaning and importance to the position of "king". It can be agreed, that kings are not like regular people. In the scriptures, the position of king, carried a special responsibility, as it has done throughout history since.
The first king in scripture was Adam. His Creator gave him dominion over every living thing that moves on the earth (Gen. 1:28). The English word "dominion" from the Latin root, means: the power to rule, the right to rule, authority, absolute ownership, sovereignty. The Hebrew word used in this same verse, ra-da', means: to dominate, rule, subjugate, to tread (with the feet). There is no doubt from the definitions of the word in both English and Hebrew, that kingly authority was given to Adam. The first Adam, gave away the kingdom. The second Adam, Jesus, bought it back again, and even more, with His own obedience, and with His blood (1 Cor. 15).
What does this say, then, about our kingship? What is expected of us, and what are our responsibilities in this position? Why do we even have to hold a position of "king"? Sometimes, because of their special position, there are situations that only kings can handle. Even presidents and representatives are limited in what they can do. In spiritual terms, the same idea applies. Sometimes it requires a king to deal with certain things. It takes a king, for instance, to deal with other princes. I would like to look at three examples in scripture.
The examples refer to three people who were raised from obscurity to positions of royalty, or royal authority, because they were called and purposed by God to confront royal, or princely, adversaries.
First, Moses was born a Hebrew slave in Egypt. God raised him up miraculously to become an adopted member of the king, Pharaoh's, household. Moses became a prince of Egypt (Ex. 2:10). As an adult, he would one day have to confront Pharaoh and command him, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness." (Ex. 5:1). Who was this man who could walk into Pharaoh's court and make demands? He was a prince of Egypt, just as Pharaoh was.
Secondly, Esther, a young Jewish woman, was elevated by a foreign king to become his queen. From this position, she was able to trap the enemy of the Jews, Haman, and save her people from destruction. Haman was a descendant of the king of the Amalekites, Agag, and was referred to as a prince in this land of Sushan (Est. 3:1). If Esther had not been in the position of queen, she would not have been able to have access to the king, nor to confront Haman. Esther was reluctant to confront the king, her husband, and Naman, but her uncle, Mordecai, told her that it was for this very purpose that she was elevated to royal rank- for the deliverance and relief of the Jews:
"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
                                                                    Esther 4:14
Like Esther, we also have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this. Having been elevated to royalty, we also, must not remain silent.
Finally, there is the story of Joseph. He had been sold into slavery, and served in Egypt. He was falsely accused and placed in prison. His spiritual gift of interpreting dreams brought him to the attention of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. The Pharaoh, valuing Joseph's gift, promoted him, setting him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh put his own signet ring of kingly authority on Joseph's hand. All the people of Egypt were ruled according to Joseph's word. Though he was not officially king, no one in the land was higher than he was except for Pharaoh, himself. Because of this kingly authority given to him, he was able to save not only Egypt, but also Israel (Canaan) in the time of a severe famine. Joseph had the power from Pharaoh, even over the royal princes of the land (Psalm 105:22). He could imprison them, if he chose to. The reason that Joseph was so promoted, was because Pharaoh recognized Joseph's gift for seeing and interpreting secret, hidden things. Proverbs 25:2 describes this gift as a kingly gift from God:
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter (dabar-word),
But the glory of kings to search out a matter (dabar-word)."

As God's people, He has also called us to be kings, who search out and reveal the hidden things of God - His kings who delve into the deep things of God, of His word, of His Spirit, and are given the authority to reveal the power of those hidden truths to principalities and powers. Like Moses, Esther, and Joseph, we have been lifted from obscurity, and placed in kingly places for the purpose of bringing our Father's sovereign will into the earth. We can go before oppressive princes and say: "Thus says the LORD: Let My people go."

Our Father is a King.

"Awesome"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz8BgLSC24E

"He Reigns"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKTqwBetI1I

"Take Me to the King"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYU5aGQV6j0