“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” (Gen. 3:8 NKJ).
The cool of the day is around 4:00 p.m. It is the time when the evening breeze begins to stir. The Hebrew word translated cool in this verse is ruwach (roo’ach). Elsewhere in Scripture, this same word is translated breath, wind, breeze, spirity and Holy
Spirit.
God is a spirit. When the afternoon breeze began to stir in the Garden of Eden, God as a spirit came to Adam and Eve in the wind. Although it is not stated that this was a daily occurrence, most Bible scholars consulted seemed to feel that this was the case.
David Kimchi, a Jewish scholar living in Spain in the 12th century, wrote that Adam and Eve sinned around the 4:00 p.m. time. Satan’s stratagem was to tempt Adam and Eve into disobedience, thereby casting a sin barrier between them and their God.
Matthew Henry, an 18th-century scholar wrote: “There is an evangelic note to this passage. God knew they had sinned, but it did not keep Him from coming to meet them. Even though they had miserably failed and caused a separation between God and the pair. He still came looking for them. His grief and compassion effected a reconciliation and a promise of a coming Messiah.”
To this day, man is still feeling the effects of that separation. I believe modern man is still lonely for his Creator’s fellowship. There is a void, a darkness, in his heart. Jesus came to fill that void. To those who believe. He has promised the light of His eternal presence – 24 hours a day. To the Christian, there is no such thing as a “twilight zone”!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.