So, one might ask, what it is that God wants? Obviously, He is omni-everything, so what could He possibly want? Apparently, there is one thing an all-wise, all-knowing God can lack. And that something is someone with whom to fellowship and share that wisdom! God appears to want uncoerced fellowship. He wants people that are so interested -- so fascinated -- by who He is, that they want nothing more than to sit at His feet and drink in His wisdom.
That is indeed the image that comes to mind when one looks at the activities taking place in the Garden of Eden before the fall. God would walk in the Garden in the cool of the day. He would always find Adam and Eve there, just waiting longingly for Him to show up. But now, in the moments after this couple takes a bite out of that alluring apple, we see Him needing to call out, "Where are you?" That beautiful, uncoerced fellowship He was used to enjoying had broken down to a point that mankind now needed to be called to God's side.
And so we see the beginning of the battle between the dueling question marks. The question mark in "Where are you?" in Genesis 3:9 asked by God stands as the second question mark in the Bible. The first one appears just 8 verses earlier and was asked by Satan; "Did God say?" Suddenly, between those questions, we see mankind going from eagerly seeking after the wisdom and goodness of their creator to aggressively seeking to justify their unbelief in His commands. The peaceful walks in the cool of the day were replaced by the hot pursuit of their own passions.
And yet the tempestuous behavior of the crown of God's creation did not knock Him from His goal of seeking uncoerced fellowship with them. Patriarchs, judges, kings and prophets were sent to call the rebellious people back to Him. And finally He sent His one and only Son. No coercion -- only opportunities to answer the gentle call resonating on the cool, evening air. "Where are you?"
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