“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the Presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8).

Cool of the Day: (Heb. Ruwach/Yowm): The Spirit/Breath of the Daytime or Daylight

There is a blessedness to communing with the Lord in the Spirit, breathing in His Presence in the Light of His Word, meditating on the rich treasures of wisdom and revelation of His Glory and Majesty. There is a sweetness to the pastoral care of the Great Shepherd and His watchful eye upon us. It is deeply personal and special as no other bond; yet, as wonderful a bond as there may be with husband and wife, mother and child, father and son, siblings and the love of friends; the love of the Lord excels them all.

That is the great tragedy of Adam’s fall. You can sense it in the verse, from sweet communion in the Presence to hiding from the Presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden. Oh, the tragedy of sin in Paradise.

There are those in Scripture who sought to restore the bond of love with God. Such a one was Isaac.

“And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the South Country. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide; and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels were coming” (Genesis 24:62-63).

Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi, the well of the Living One my Seer, for Isaac sought to know the God of his father, Abraham, and the God of his mother, Sarah. Isaac teaches us to dwell by the well of living water, the fountain of the Living One who sees us and knows our sorrows and bears all our grief. Isaac sorrowed after the death of his mother, but the Lord brought Rebekah to him, “And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death” (Genesis 24:67).

David was another who sought the sweetness of fellowship with the Lord and to drink of the fountain of living waters that flow from Him. It was more than natural water that he sought when he cried, “Oh, that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, by the gate” (II Samuel 23:15; I Chronicles 11:17). David longed for the true and living water from the well of the House of Bread, the True One who was to come from heaven and give living water to all who thirst (cf. John 4:10).

Therefore, whether at noontime, eventide, or morning, we can find our “cool of the day,” our Spirit and Breath time with the Lord in His Presence to listen for His voice and be inspired by His personal and tender care in the garden of His heart.

Are you hearing? Are you listening? Are you waiting? Are you longing for His Presence? It may surprise you that the Lord is waiting, listening and longing to be with you. Can you hear Him calling, “Where are you?” Are you running to see Him, or are you hiding? Sin in Paradise will cause us to do that. But thanks be to God there is a Redeemer. There is a Savior. There is a Mediator, an Advocate to bring us together in holy union and communion in the Spirit and Breath, the Cool of the Day with the Father.

Let me encourage you. There is a cool of the day for you. There is a special place in the heart of God for you. You are loved and longed for; you are greatly desired, more than you know. Open your heart to Him and find your true love in the cool of your day, right now.

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