Many people have lots of questions they would like to ask God, but on rare occasions God asks the questions! He does not do so because He does not know the answers, but He asks to make us think, and to give us the opportunity to realize things we might be blind to, and to enable us to respond. This series of sermons was preached at Church on the Way some years ago and then taken into home/cell groups for the people to discuss and apply to their own lives. These notes were produced for that purpose and can be freely used or adapted for your own ministry.
God's Questions
God’s First Question
“Where are you?”
Genesis 3v9
The oldest question of all time is still as relevant and up to date as the day that it was first asked of Adam and Eve… “Where are you?”
What was behind the question?:
• God was saying “I miss you” – “We used to have such sweet fellowship”
•“What’s happened to you?” – they had disobeyed with big consequences
•“What’s come between us? – their sin had spoilt the relationship
Does this question start to challenge you - and if so how?
The Three Trees
The Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil
The first man and woman exchanged innocence and purity for carnal knowledge and straight away they immediately felt the consequences of shame, guilt, fear, loss of peace and fellowship with God. The whole human race is living with this now, but there is also a sense in which each individual experiences the power of it personally every time they exchange purity for carnal knowledge. The further consequences were: hard labour, pain, sickness, and ultimately, death.
The Tree of Life (Genesis 2v9 and 3v22-24)
Their sin made it essential that they were barred from access to the tree of life lest they should eat of it and stay in that fallen state forever. The tree of life is now found in heaven and all who overcome (Revelation 2v7) and who obey God’s commands (22v14) will eat of it – but access to it is only gained by way of another tree…
The Tree of the Cross
“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” (Galatians 3v13). Jesus, “the last Adam” took the curse of the Fall, the curse of sin for the whole human race upon himself by dying on the cross, winning back for us what Adam lost – fellowship with God, forgiveness and peace. The cross tells us God wants us back!
For the time being however we still have to contend with the fact that we have lost our innocence – What does the promise of the Tree of Life challenge us to do?
Where are YOU?
No one else can answer this question for us, but is God saying, “I miss you, we used to have such sweet fellowship” “What has come between us? – the cares of this world? - Something you love more than Me?” “It’s not too late to come back…”
God’s Final Question
“What have you done?”
Genesis 3v13, 4v10
When God asks questions He does not do so because He does not know the answers, but He asks in order to help us face reality, and to help us get back on track.
God asked this question of Eve and later her son Cain. He will also ask that question of everyone on the Day of Judgment, but in the meantime He asks us that question to enable us to be ready for the final question…
The Question for Eve: "What have you done?"
Eve’s answer is revealing (Gen 3v13):
“The serpent deceived me” – She was right, but she was still responsible because she chose to believe the serpent rather than God. This continues to be humanity’s downfall.
“and I ate” – whatever we do, once it is done, it is done and there is no way to undo it. The consequences of a decision made, a sin committed, may last a lifetime or in Eve’s case, for all time. The gospel provides present forgiveness and ultimate salvation from the curse of sin and death – hallelujah!
What can we learn from Eve’s experience for our own lives?
The Question for Cain (Genesis 4v1-10)
Cain brought God an offering to God from the fruit of his labours in the field, while his younger brother Abel (meaning transitoriness, short lived), brought an animal offering from the flocks he tended. In accepting Abel’s offering God was establishing the fact that we cannot approach Him as sinners on the merits of our own works but with a blood sacrifice to atone for sin. Cain’s angry response (v5) – was questioned by God and he was warned (v7) to rule over his passions before sin ruled him. As born again believers we are empowered to “reign in life through… Jesus Christ” (Romans 5v17).
What can we learn from Cain’s experience for our own lives?
The Question for all Mankind
Before we stand before the Judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5v10) to answer the question “What have you done (in your life),” God gives the opportunity to answer that question before it’s too late…
What have you done – with My Son? John 12v44-48 To reject God’s Son is to reject God and His salvation.
What have you done – with the gifts and talents I gave you? Matthew 25v14-30
We are responsible not only for the things we have done, but also for the things we did not do because we were lazy!
What have you done – for others? Matthew 25v31-46 and Romans 14v10-13
How does the prospect of this question challenge us in what we are doing right now?
God’s Double Question
“Where have you come from and where are you going?”
Genesis 16v8
Background: Read Genesis 16v1-13 Abraham had been given great promises (12v2 & 15v4-5) and had believed God (15v6) but now that faith was to be tested, as it always is – would he be patient or would he try and work it out for himself and get himself and those around him into all kinds of trouble. These things are written for us to learn from. See Psalm 37v5 and note the words : 1) Commit your way unto the Lord 2) Trust Him 3) He shall bring it to pass
Where did Abraham go wrong and what can we learn from this for our own lives?
Where have you come from?
In Hagar’s case she came from:
CIRCUMSTANCES Hagar came from slavery (16v1) We all serve something – be it
self, sin, shame, or Satan - until we come to Christ whom to serve is perfect freedom!
CHOICES (16v3) Hagar was caught up in the decisions and actions of her master
and mistress. To begin with Hagar was happy, but not in the end. This is always
what happens when people do the wrong thing.
CONSEQUENCES (15v4) Hagar had gone from being a common slave to the “wife” of
a rich and powerful man and this naturally went to her head. Pride comes before a fall
and Hagar’s attitude had got her to where she was (15v5-6).
Like Hagar we have come from:
CIRCUMSTANCES – our birth and upbringing are circumstances beyond our control
but what we do from then on is very much our own responsibility.
CHOICES – sometimes the actions and decisions of others have a profound effect upon our own lives but it is still up to us what we do about that.
CONSEQUENCES – The way we react to what happens around us and to us, is up to us. Our attitudes determine our happiness or otherwise.
Where are you going?
In Hagar’s case:
She did not know (16v8), but she was going there as fast as her legs would carry her! – How true is that of many people in the world today.
She was going in the wrong direction - running from her mistress when she needed to stay with the situation (16v9). How many people are running from the past, from their own mistakes, from the consequences of their actions – and getting nowhere? God rescued Hagar as He has done millions of others since but for that to happen we need to hear what He has to say to us and do it (16v9).
What can we learn from Hagar’s experience for our own lives? Where are you going?
The God who sees me
Hagar’s amazement at God’s mercy and multiplication in her life led her to call Him the God who sees (16v13). He is the God who sees us and knows where we are going. Better still He’s the God watches over us to get us to where we need to be if we will walk in His ways (Psalm 32v8).
God’s Rhetorical Question
“Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
Genesis 18v14
God called Abraham when he was 75 years old (Genesis 12v4) Abraham had been given great promises (12v2 & 15v4-5) but he still had to wait 24 years before he could even begin to see how they could be fulfilled.
Can you think of any reasons why God often keeps us waiting before He acts?
Situation Impossible
Genesis 17v15-19 Maybe one of those reasons could be so that we see how impossible the situation is so that when the answer comes we can recognize that it is nothing other than an act of God. Genesis 17v15-19 Not only was Abraham nearly 100 years old, but his wife Sarah was 90 AND she had been barren all her life! (Genesis 11v30).
A Divine encounter
Genesis 18v1-13 Even if we have to wait, and even if we have to see how impossible the situation is, God often speaks before He acts. The first thing He said was that “Sarah shall have a son” (v10) and then when Sarah laughed at the prospect, He asked “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (v14). The question is rhetorical because the answer is obvious and yet even as believers we have a problem with that. In theory we know that nothing is too difficult for Him yet in practice when we are facing the impossible situation it’s difficult to apply that truth to the situation. The way to begin to do so is to SPEAK what God speaks – declare (to yourself, in prayer, and to the devil if necessary) that nothing is too hard for the Lord and wait and see what God will do.
Why do you think that God often speaks before He acts? Why should we speak what He says and not what we think (like Sarah did)?
God’s Prophetic Questions
Let’s look at some questions He asked 4 of His greatest prophets…
“What is in your hand?”
God asked this question of Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 4v2)
Having met with God at the burning bush (Ex 3) Moses shows his reluctance, uncertainty and feelings of inadequacy to do what God called him to do and this grew the more they spoke together (3v11, 3v13, 4v1, 4v10, 4v13). If we ever feel like that we are in good company! So God asks Moses the question “What is in your hand?” Moses answers “A staff”. A person leans on a staff for support and stability – God told him to throw it down – when he let go of it, the situation was transformed, when he picked it up things would never be the same again. In our humanity there are many things we feel inadequate to do but if we rely on God rather than our own resources miracles can happen. As the old hymn says “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling.”
In view of the above, what does this question mean to you?
“What are you doing here?”
God asked this question of Elijah when he had run away to Horeb (1 Kings 19v9)
Elijah had just had a phenomenal success on Mount Carmel against the prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). The aftermath of success is a dangerous time and we need to be alert to that danger – “If any many thinks that he stands, let him take heed lest he falls” (1 Cor 10v12). The power of the living God had been displayed for all to see yet he was plunged into defeat, despair and depression over the threats of one woman – Jezebel who stands as the epitome for all time, of the devil at work through an evil woman. With the question: “What are you doing here?” God is showing Elijah that he is reacting wrongly in this situation – he’s in the wrong place and God says “Go back the way you came.” (19v15). There are times when anyone can go off the track, or react wrongly in a situation – that is the time to retrace steps and get back to where we should be with God and to what we should be doing in our lives.
What can we learn from this incident for our own lives?
“Can these bones live?”
God asked this question of the prophet Ezekiel (Ez 37v3)
The nation of Israel had sinned greatly against the Lord for many years and He had warned them time and time again that if they did not repent and change their ways they would be sent into exile and the land would be left in ruins. Ezekiel prophesied that God would soon restore the nation again for His own name’s sake (Ez 36v23-24). In the midst of this Ezekiel is taken to the famous valley of dry bones and God asked him “Can these bones live?” – notice Ezekiel’s wise reply (37v3) and what God causes to happen as Ezekiel prophecies to them (v7-10). This is God’s answer to His people’s hopeless despair (v11-13). There is no situation too far gone for God – He can breathe life again into dry bones, He restores places of desolation and leads His people forward.
What does this say to you for your own life or for the fellowship we belong to?
“What do you see?”
“I am watching over my Word to perform it”
(Jeremiah 1v12 RSV)
In commissioning Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations (1v5) God promised him that He would put His words into Jeremiah’s mouth and the first thing He did was to give him a vision and ask him the question “What do you see?” Jeremiah saw an almond branch which is the earliest flowering and fruiting tree and is literally called the wakeful or hasty tree in Hebrew – God used the same word when he said literally: “I will be wakeful as to my Word” or I will hasten my Word to perform it. This was not just something for Jeremiah or for that moment, it is God’s declaration of His commitment to His Word – what He has spoken, He will perform. His Word is rock solid for the following reasons:
God’s Word is the expression of His Character
Words reflect a person’s true character. We know the thoughts and plans of a person by what they say. We know what God is like from what He has spoken in His Word and His Word itself reflects that. For example: God is Holy – His Word is Holy (Jeremiah 23v9). God is good – His Word is good (Micah 2v7). God is all-powerful – His Word is powerful (Psalm 147v15-18). God is right and true – His Word is the same (Psalm 33v4). God is trustworthy – His Word is trustworthy (1 Kings 17v14-16).
How do these facts affect our faith in God’s Word ?
God’s Word is the means by which He Created
Psalm 33v6 By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made
Genesis 1v3f “God said “Let there be…and there was” This is God creating out of nothing - by speaking His Word!
Hebrews 11v3 underlines this: “The worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
How do these facts affect our faith in God’s Word ?
God’s Word is revealed in Christ
John 1v14 “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”
Hebrews 1v1-3 “God… has in these last days spoken to us by His Son”
1 John 1v1-2 “Our hands have handled… the Word of life”
Revelation 19v13 Jesus will return “dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is called the Word of God.”
How do these facts affect our faith in God’s Word ?
In Conclusion
God’s Word is the outflow of Himself. He is so committed to His Word that Psalm 138v2 says “You have magnified you Word above all Your Name”. He said to Jeremiah “What do you see?” and He effectively says “I see what I am going to do, and what I say, I will do. He is watching over His Word to perform it. We can depend on it!
Jesus’ Easter Questions
“Could you not watch with Me one hour?”
Matthew 26v40
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus asked His closest disciples to watch with Him (26v37) but on returning, finding them asleep, He asked the question: “Could you not watch with Me one hour?” and commissioned them to “Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (26v40-41) The Lord understands our humanity and He “remembers that we are dust” but this can never be used as an excuse for laziness or an opt out clause for things we do not feel like doing. The disciples let Him down badly and in the process exposed themselves to being unready for what was about to happen. Jesus on the other hand went through agonies in prayer, submitted to the Father’s will and was ready to face the worst. As William Barclay says: “In prayer man enters heaven that he may face the battles of earth.” We are challenged still to watch and pray and submit to God’s will. That is the way of victory.
In view of the above, what does this question mean to you?
“Friend why have you come?”
Matthew 26v50
As Judas arrived to betray Him, Jesus asked him this question. Of course Jesus knew the answer to it, but the wording of the question is tremendously tender and heartrending in itself. Judas by doing this had made himself the archenemy of Jesus but the Lord calls him friend. Within the context of this moment Jesus asked five other questions: To Judas, “Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke22v48) and to the crowd, “Whom are you seeking?” (John 18v4,7) and they all fell to the ground! “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs?” (Matt 26v55). In these questions we see the supreme dignity and authority of Jesus even in the face of all that is about to happen. When Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant in a futile attempt to defend Jesus, the Lord asked him “Do you not think that I cannot now pray to My Father and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt 26v53-54) “Shall I not drink the cup which my Father has given Me?” (John 18v11). This set the pattern of all that was to follow because at any point along the way Jesus could have avoided death very easily, but he went as a lamb to the slaughter and became the Lamb that was slain for us, thus fulfilling the scriptures (Isaiah 53v7).
What does all of this say to us?
“My God, My God why hast thou forsaken Me?”
Matthew 27v46
In speaking these words, Jesus was quoting Psalm 22v1 and at the same time fulfilling this prophetic psalm, which describes crucifixion (v16-17) before it was invented, but they were no doubt spoken out of the depths of his own feelings. How often do words of scripture express what we want to say to God – this is a powerful way of praying. Any time that we might feel forsaken ourselves Jesus has been there and taken the full impact of it for us. The only way that God would forsake us would be because of our own sin and that is what Jesus experienced on our behalf as he hung on the cross in order to reconcile us to God and to take away our sins.
Maybe prayers of praise that Jesus went through all of this instead of us would be the best response to this question!
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
Luke 24v5
The angels at the tomb were the voice of God to the women who came to tend the grave and they are the voice of God to us too. The whole world is the place of the dead since without Christ, men and women are dead in their “trespasses and sins” Ephesians 2v1-10. Everyone wants to live life to the full but the place to seek it is among the living – from Jesus who is alive forevermore and is the source of life to all who come to Him. Let us not fall into the trap of seeking life among the dead!
From Ephesians 2v1-10 what does Christ give us as opposed to the world?
“Woman why are you weeping?”
John 20v13,15
Having told Peter and John that the tomb was empty, Mary Magdalene followed them to the tomb and lingered on after they had left, and she saw two angels who asked her why she was weeping. The answer was obvious for her but the question was obvious to them – because they saw that she had no reason to be weeping since they knew that Jesus was alive and great joy was awaiting her just around the corner. How often do we moan or groan or even weep over our circumstances because we do not see what God has in store for us? We can always take comfort in the fact that God knows what He is doing and that all will be well for believers because of the conquest of Jesus over the world, sin, death, Satan and hell itself.
What can we learn from this incident for our own lives?
“What kind of conversation is this?”
Luke 24v17
We need to guard our conversations – they can build up or tear down, they can encourage or they can add fuel to the despair. Spend time talking with those who walk the walk and talk the talk of faith.
“Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things?”
Luke 24v26
The testimony of the two on the road to Emmaus was “Jesus… a prophet mighty in deed,” “angels said He was alive,” “those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.” All this evidence - yet they were still sad. No wonder Jesus rebuked them for being slow of heart to believe. Yet we are easily the same. When we are in circumstances where everything looks dark and hopeless let’s remember the risen Christ who walks with us in those circumstances!
How often are we troubled and sad not realizing that Jesus is walking with us? What do we need to do in the future to save ourselves such heartache?
“Why are you troubled &
why do doubts arise in your hearts?”
Luke 24v38
For the disciples gathered in secret on that Sunday night, the appearance of Jesus suddenly standing in their midst, even though others like Mary and Peter had already seen the Lord was a spine chilling moment and no doubt would have been for us too, making the question equally relevant for us. How can we be troubled and doubting when we have a Saviour who has conquered death and the worst things that life can throw at us and is there to help us every step of the way?
The Flesh versus Spirit Question
“Having begun in the Spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
Galatians 3v3
The Apostle Paul asked this question of the church in Galatia who were being enticed to return to keeping the Old Testament law and the practice of circumcision in particular. It is relevant to us today because there is always that tendency to rely on our own efforts, or what we can see and touch i.e. the things of the world (the flesh) as opposed to the things of God (the Spirit).
Can you relate to this, and if so how does this question challenge you?
The Flesh
In the New Testament the term “flesh” (Greek: sarx) is used of everything that pertains to the human, so it does often refer to the human body but more significantly to human nature, human desires, human effort, human sinfulness and this is what the Bible has to say about it:
John 6v63 “The flesh profits nothing.”
Romans 7v18 “In my flesh, nothing good dwells.”
Romans 8v8 “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
Romans 8v13 “If you live according to the flesh you will die.”
Galatians 5v17 “The flesh lusts against the Spirit.”
Galatians 6v8 “He who sows to his flesh, will of the flesh reap corruption.”
Galatians 5v19-21lists the awful works of the flesh.
What picture do these scriptures paint of the flesh?
The Spirit
The Spirit on the other hand is…
Romans 8v10“The Spirit is life”
Romans 8v14-17“The Spirit of adoption” – we are joint heirs with Christ.
1 Corinthians 3v16“The Spirit of God dwells in you”
Galatians 6v8 “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Galatians 5v22-23lists the wonderful fruit of the Spirit
Back to the divine question… having begun in the Spirit how do we avoid going back to the ways of the flesh?
Galatians 5v16“Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Galatians 5v24“Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh.”
Romans 6v11“Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God.”
Romans 8v4-5“Do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
How to do that: Set your mind on the things of the Spirit (8v5) and By the Spirit (with His help) put to death the deeds of the flesh (8v13).
In conclusion, what is this divine question calling us to do in practical terms?
Questions in Hebrews
The early Gentile believers were being tempted by some teachers to think that they had to observe the Old Testament law and this was dealt with by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians. As time went by, the Jewish believers in Jesus were also tempted to return to the Jewish religion mainly because of the hardships they were suffering. This was addressed in the letter to the Hebrews. To counter this trend the writer to the Jewish believers points to: 1) the supremacy of Jesus in every way over the old religious system of Judaism 2) the need to endure to the end and 3) the fact that they have Christ with them all the way.
“To which of the angels did God ever say?:”
Hebrews 1v5 & 13
“You are my Son” 1v5 The Son is supreme over the angels (God’s highest created beings) because He is the only begotten Son of God. “Begotten” means He is not created, He comes out of God and has all of His attributes and nature - He is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of God (1v3).
Through God the Son all things were created (1v2 & 10) and are sustained (1v3) and He is the heir of all things. God the Father instructs His angels to worship His Son (1v6) and refers to Him as God (1v8) and LORD (Jehovah) 1v10.
“Sit at My right hand” 1v13 The place of highest honour in heaven, in all creation and in all eternity is given by God the Father to God the Son and to Him alone!
We are not tempted to return to Judaism but we might be tempted to neglect our wonderful Saviour. How can we avoid this? Read Hebrews 2v1-3.
“What son is there whom a father does not chasten?”
Hebrews 12v7 & 9
The early Jewish believers were under intense pressure and Hebrews was written to encourage them and to dissuade them from going back. Here the writer reminds them that their Saviour had to endure the cross and hostility before sitting down at God’s right hand (12v2-3). If we endure hardships as God’s fatherly chastening in our lives we prove our sonship and will be all the better for it in the end (12v5-11). “Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” (12v9)
Do we want to have an easy life or fulfilled purposeful life? If it’s the latter what do we need to be aware of from the points above?
“The Lord is my helper… what can man do to me?”
Hebrews 13v6
In all of our trials in life the wonderful fact for believers is that the Lord is with us to help us every step of the way (13v5-6). Also we will make it easier on ourselves if like the early believers who were under pressure to conform to the world around them, we learn to be content in whatever situation we find ourselves (13v5).
Conclusion
This is not strictly a divine question in terms of God asking us something, but it is God putting words in our mouths – and if we will, we can boldly say “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can man (or the world) do to me?”
End Time Questions
Amazingly the church of the 1st century faced issues and existed in a world that was not so different from the issues and circumstances of the world of the 21st century:
1st Century 21st Century
Global view through Roman Empire Global view through Media
Civilised, Secular Society Civilised, Secular world
Issues of Law and Order Issues of Law and Order
Diversity of religion Diversity of religion
Christianity in an alien world Christianity in an alien world
Peter’s two letters are very much to do with practical Christian living in the 1st century with an eye to future judgment and as such are very relevant to today. The church had to remain distinctive then or else it would not have survived, and if it had been the same as the world around it would have had nothing to offer. The church of today must remain equally distinctive for the same reasons. This is Peter’s message and the reason for the two divine questions found in his letters.
“What will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel?”
1 Peter 4v18
Peter asked this question not out of morbid glee over the fate of unbelievers but to challenge the early believers to endure the hardships of being distinctive in a dark and alien world. God is judging His people in order to keep us on the straight and narrow way that leads to life and if we find that hard it will be far worse to be judged as a sinner who has not obeyed the gospel of God. The end for sinners will be “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1v9).
Do we see signs of “God’s judgment beginning with the house of God” around us now and if so how?
“What manner of persons ought you to be?”
2 Peter 3v11
In looking forward to God’s ultimate, final judgment when He will put right everything that has been wrong in the world once and for all, Peter says, “Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be?”
Before we look at the answers that Peter himself gives – let’s answer that question in practical terms for our everyday lives. What sort of people do we need to be to be distinctively Christian in the world today?
Now let’s check our answers by this list from 2 Peter 3 and also attempt to put his statements in practical language for our own day and age (space left for your notes):
3v11 HOLY CONDUCT_______________________________________________________
GODLINESS_______________________________________________________________
3v12 LOOKING FOR THE DAY OF GOD___________________________________________
3v14 WITHOUT SPOT & BLAMELESS_____________________________________________
3v17 STEADFAST____________________________________________________________
3v18 GROWING IN GRACE_____________________________________________________