TOPIC:"The Story of Two Searches"
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Genesis 3:1-9; Matthew 2:1-5
"Where art thou?" (Genesis 3:9); "Where is He?" (Matthew 2:2)
Here before us we have the first question asked by God in the Old Testament and the first question asked by man in the New Testament. We have God searching for man and man seeking for God.
The background of the first question is this: Feeling guilty after sinning, Adam endeavored to hide from God. There in what the theologians call "the fall," or "the first sin," Adam in his lostness and in his loneliness, heard the voice of God calling him saying, "Where art thou?" Here God in holy love and divine judgment seeks Adam out.
The background of the second question is this: Wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem after having traveled a great distance. Having seen the star, and believing that Jesus was the promised Messiah, they eagerly sought out the divine Deliverer. Hence their arrival in the Holy City and their fervent question, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?"
So the questions: "Where art thou?" and "Where is He?" It's the story of two searches, and the end result is very important. Let us together take a closer look at both of them.
I.
First of all, think of the AMAZING REALITY of these two searches. "Where art thou?" and "Where is He?" There is nothing make-believe here between God and man. They are both real. For God, life is unsatisfied without man. For man, life is unbearable without God.
Look at God. He created man because He wanted their fellowship. He desired their companionship. We read of Jesus that He "ordained twelve that they should be with Him" (Mark 3:14). So God toiled over a lump of clay and shaped it in His own image. He then breathed the breath of life into man's nostrils, and man became a living person. Man became God's supreme masterpiece. He is the crown and culmination of all God's creation.
But the man God created did not remain faithful to Him. He chose the path of disobedience which led to alienation, separation and certain death. It was at this point that God set out to bring fallen man back into fellowship with Himself. This in fact is what we call in the Bible "the drama of redemption." In the Old Testament God is preparing the way for the coming of His Son. In the New Testament God is providing the sacrifice which is His Son. . . .