Gods Questions - Dan Weaver

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus. It's a privileged

to be gathered here this morning. I've been blessed. It's

a little bit of different topic, could be related, but

both devotionals set the stage a bit for my topic

this morning, for my message, I want to think about

questions and the value of questions a little bit as

an introduction, And if you read much of Paul's writings,

you will certainly find questions. In fact, the last five

verses that Gerald read there were six questions. And part

of that, I believe is because of the education system

of the Catechism that was a question and answer answer

type of education. And we could ask, well, our questions

good or bad? Well, we could say both. We know

that right off the head. Well, what makes a question

a good question? I've heard sometimes whether there's no dumb questions? Well,

I think there have been enough people that have proved

that incorrect that we probably shouldn't say that. But I

don't know if there's any dumb, honest questions. And we

also if you go to that beautiful story that TJ

talked about in devotions this morning, and Jesus interacted with

questions with them and we'll see in both these cases

with Paul, with Jesus, he asked the questions and then

he taught. He asked the questions and then he taught,

and that was That was the the Catechism method. I

think as we go through life, we have questions, sometimes

deep questions, and the tendency sometimes is to ask about

the things that don't matter and not the things that

should or go to the wrong place. And I think

questions can be bad because of motive, because of how

they're asked and defensive and maybe even timing. Let's drill

down a little more on motive. Why do we ask questions?

One simple thing is is sometimes we just want to

know something and it's just for information, because we want

to learn. Men have a difficulty with this, but sometimes

we need to ask for directions and instructions. We have

innate curiosity. We want to know about things, and so

we ask people that do know. Sometimes we ask questions

because we want to know how much someone else knows.

If any one has spent much time in parenting, you've

probably used that with your children. Ask questions. Sometimes we're

asking questions and we know the answer there. Again, that

can probably be used in good and bad ways. Sometimes

we ask questions to hear another perspective, and this is

a very valuable tool because we tend to think about

things and go a direction because of the experiences we have,

and it's hard and we need other perspectives. And we

had a verse in Sundayscoo about that about seeking counsel.

The Pharisees ask questions of Jesus to try to trap

him and trick him. I think we can be that

way as well, or maybe just to be nosy two

Timothy two to twenty three says, but foolish and unlearned

questions avoid knowing that they do gender strifes, and so

we know there are bad questions. Foolish and unlearned questions

are bad questions, and we should avoid those. They gender

strife instead of light. But now switching gears just a

little bit. Why would God ask a question? Why would

God ask a question? It's not because he doesn't know

the answer. We know that. I also don't believe that

God asked trick questions like the Pharisees did and Jesus

sometimes his tactic often when they asked a question was

to answer with a question, but the goal was always

to lead towards truth. God's questions are always appropriate, they're

always fitting. God desires to hear us confess. And I've

noticed it as you go through the scripture when God

asks a question, and we're going to look at some

of those. And that's my topic this morning is God's questions.

God's questions, and we're going to look at some of

God's questions. And I would like those questions to speak

to us this morning because they're timeless, and I would

like us to ask those questions as we look at them,

and as we read those, we'll notice that it's seldom

answered directly, even though a short answer would be very appropriate.

God's questions are very deep, and many of these could

have been and probably have been developed into a whole

mess themselves. In fact, I probably have had messages on

several of these in the past. But going to let's

just start in Genesis three, we think of questions, and

interestingly enough, God did not ask the first question in

the Bible. And you go through Genesis one and two,

and it's statements of how in the history of how

the world was created, and then of creating man and woman.

Of Chapter two seems to be a little more of

a drilled down on the sixth day, naming the animals, creating.

Eve.

Interestingly enough, maybe one question a lot of us to

ask is who will I marry? Or who should I marry?

But Adam, we don't even see that he got to

he asked, ever asked that question. His marriage was an

arranged marriage. We're not going to go deeper into that.

And verse two, the serpent was more silent, says yeah.

Half God said, Now that was the first question, and yeah,

if God's yeah, half God said, and I believe that

it doesn't matter what you put after that. And here

again it's its motive, because I don't think there's anything

wrong with us asking. In fact, I think it's an

appropriate question to say, well, what does God say about this?

What does God say about this decision I'm trying to make.

But we see a motive here as Yeah, God said

you shall not eat of every tree of the garden,

and Eve answered, and we see by his answer his

motive was wrong. But that's not our focus this morning.

I just liked and we know the story how she

gave it to She ate of it, and she saw

it was good, and she took it to Adam and

he ate of it, and they saw their naked they

went and hid themselves. And we're going to start in

verse eight and read through verse thirteen. 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. And the Lord God called

unto Adam and said, unto him, where art thou? And

he said, I heard thy voice in the garden. I

was afraid because I was naked, and hid myself. And

he said, who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast

thou eaten of the tree? Whereof thy commanded that thou

shouldest not eat? And the man said, the woman whom

thou gavest me gave us to be with me. She

gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And

the Lord God said, unto the woman, what is this

that thou hast done? And a woman said, the serpent

beguiled me? And I did eat. And we're going to

stop there, as we know it goes on into then

their punishment. But God's questions, and if we think about that,

if we think if we roll back a little bit.

When the serpent came and asked questions, there should have

been questions from Eve, There should have been questions from Adam.

This is different than what God said. They come to

the garden, and this first question speaks to relationship with God.

That relationship was broken. They went and hid themselves, and

God came and said, where art thou? Where art thou?

And that's a question I would like us to consider.

As God asked us this morning, where are you now?

I realize physically your sitting here at Halsey Midnight Church,

but I am old enough to know that we can

sit here and be a lot of places. Where are

you in your relationship with God? In your walk with God?

Are you hiding in the bushes? Are you hiding in

the bushes this morning? And you know their answer. We

heard your voice and were afraid because we're naked, so

we hit ourselves. And God answered with more questions, who

told you? Did you eat? Has o eating of the

tree that I commanded you that they shouldn't eat? And

you know, I think sometimes when we're hiding in the bushes,

we're only hiding from ourselves. Seems like everyone around us

knows we're hiding in the bushes. God for sure knows

we're hiding in the bushes. He says, where art thou?

And when we're hiding, When we've hid ourselves in the bushes,

we cannot receive the benefit of the relationship that God desires.

It cuts off relationship with God, separated by sin, by

secret sins. I'd just like to read a few verses

from James One. Let no man say when he is tempted,

I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted

with evil, neither tempteth he any man. Every man is

tempted when he has drawn away of his own less

and entice. And when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin,

and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death. Do

not err, my beloved brethren. And as I just think

about this, this thing of temptation and sin separates. Does

temptation separate? No. Temptation is separately linked to desire, and

God put desire in us, and Satan tries to twist that.

So we're doing wrong things instead of what God intended

for us to do. We think of something as simple

as as food. Do we desire food? Yes, do we

desire good food? Yes? Is got any sin? Yes, that's

just an example. And of course then are evil things

that we are drawn to. It's the twisting of what

God has presented. I think of things of morality and

things we own that the devil tries to tempt us

with riches. But James brings out that as we're God

does not tempt us with evil either tempt but every

man is tempted when he has drawn away of his

own lust and enticed. And I think sometimes we need

to remember or no, we need to listen for the

voice of God. That's what I should trying to say,

because when we're at that moment where there's these proper

desires and we're getting off track and the world is

getting too value and the things that are getting too

valuable to us, and God comes in mercy and says,

where art thou to help us get back on track?

Where art thou? Where is your heart? Is it following

the you're investments? Where is it following God and what

he wants us to do? And have they those things

gotten in the way of us hearing the voice of God?

God obviously doesn't ask where art though, because he can't

see us, but it's to remind us that we have

blurred our vision of him, and we maybe can still

hear him, we can't see him. We recognize that something

is missing, and God wants us to stay in eye

contact and fellowship with him. Second Crinsian is three eighteen.

But we all with open face beholding us in the glass.

The glory of the Lord are changed into the same image,

from glory to glue. The second question I'd like to

look at is just in the next chapter, again, very

familiar story we know well, the story of Cana and Abel.

And Abel was a was a keeper of the sheep,

Cane a teller of the ground. In the process of time,

they brought an offering. Abel brought of his flock, and

Cain brought of his.

Of the of his first first fruit of the ground.

And it said that the Lord had respect to Abel's

offering and not to Caine's. And then in verse six,

I think I'm just going to start reading here at

verse six and the Lord said to Cain, why art

thou wroth? And why has that countenance fallen? If thou

doest well, shalt not, they'll be accepted. If thou doest

not well sin liath at the door, and unto these

shall be his desire, and now shalt rule over him.

And Cain talked with Able his brother, and it came

to pass it when they were in the field, that

Cain rose up against Able his brother and slew him.

And the Lord said, unto Cain, where isable thy brother?

And he said, I know not? Am I my brother's keeper?

And he said, what hast thou done? The voice of

thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground, and

then we're going to stop there, and goes on and

gives his punishment. So the second question I'd like to

think about, the second one of God's questions I'd like

to think about is where is thy brother? Where is

your brother? And this question speaks to the relationship with others.

It's a question of accountability. And we see Cain took

it that way and became very defensive. Am I my

brother's keeper? Which you notice he has answered a question

with a question too, but with a different motive. But

also the answer is yes, you are your brother's keeper.

In this sense, what is our responsibility to our brothers

and sisters? Is my brother and sin? Is he hurting?

Have I wounded my brother. Do we need reconciliation? Or

have I got so accustomed to a blood stained path

that it doesn't even bother me anymore? And again in

this passage, I'd like to just think about the mercy

of the Lord. And you know, we know in each

both of these cases they deserve death. And of course

there was spiritual death for sure in Genesis three. But

God came early to Kane. He said, Kane, why are

you wrong? Why are you angry? What's wrong? Why is

your countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt not, they'll

be accepted. You hear the appeal and the love of

God and no desire. But okay, we know Cain went on,

he did not do well. He continued in his state

until he until he slew his brother. How's it with

you and your brothers and sisters this morning? Saying in Genesis,

going to chapter thirty two, I would like to focus.

This is again a long story. Jacob came and he

fought with an angel, and he's fighting all night. And

I'd just like to go to a couple verses in

this interaction, another question from God, I believe to Jacob

in I think we'll start verse twenty six. Read verse

twenty six to twenty eight, and remember this is this

is after they fought all night, and Jacob's joint was

if I was put out a joint in verse twenty

five and verse twenty six is and he said, let

me go for the day breakth and he said, I

will not let you go except thou bless me. So

here's Jacob the fighter, still hanging on. They're still fighting.

His thighs out a joint and the Angel of God

is saying, let me go, and Jake, who's no, I

won't let you go, and bless you, bless me. And

he said, unto them, what is thy name? What is

thy name? And this speaks to our identity, this question

what is your name? And I don't want to get

into this, but identity is a big deal culturally in

our nation. And it's very confusing because they've gotten away

from the identity that God has designed for them. We

can do the same in spiritually. God has given you

an identity. And he asked, what is your name? How

do you identify? And he said, my name is Jacob.

My name is Jacob. And you know what Jacob means.

It means our planter or trickster. And the last time,

if you go back to Genesis twenty seven, Jacob was

asked by his father, what is your name? And what

did he say? My name is Esau. And I actually

think that this question from God is actually bringing him

back to that. And he said, my name is Jacob.

I've been fighting here all night. I'm a powerful man.

I have all these people in these animals, but I'm

broken and twisted and crooked. That's who I am. And

what was God's answer? He said, thy name shall be

called no more Jacob, but Israel. For as a prince,

hast thou power with God and with man, and has prevailed.

And this is such a beautiful picture of what God

changes a person's identity and changes their name. And he

went from trickster to prince of God. And you think

of it, as he was known, this big, strong, capable Jacob.

He had this all these cattle and wives and family

with him, and he's going along and that's what he

was known as as he was coming to see Esau,

and he changed to me Esau. And he was changed

by God that night so that the world instead saw

him as a cripple. But God identified him as his prince.

Is what is your name? How do you identify in

God this morning? Are you his child? And you call

him have a father? Now we could spend the next

hour on the next passage if you could turn to Job.

And it's interesting Job God asked, actually answered asked chapters

of questions here beautiful and it's especially this could be

a message in itself. You should. It's a good exerciseist

like to read through those several chapters at once. Sometimes

it's just a lot of deep questions. But you know,

you know the story of Job and how he was suffering,

and his friends came and waxed eloquent, and Job had

some pretty quippy, smart answers himself and told them that

they didn't know what they're talking about. And they just

went back and forth, trying to seem like trying to

usurp each other's wisdom over each other. That's oversimplifying the conversation.

And it's interesting as I understand this and read this dialogue,

it's Elia that was Eli who that was speaking last,

but that says in verse in verse thirty eight, and

then answered Job. And then the Lord answered Job Job

thirty eight, verse one, and the Lord answered Job out

of the whirlwind, and said, who is this? That darkness?

Council by words of knowledge? God? Up now thy loins

like a man, for I will demand to be in

it and answer thou me. So that was a question,

a leading question. Where wast thou when I laid the

foundations of the earth? Declare, if that understand, who hath

laid the measures thereof? If thou knowest when the verse seven,

when the morning stars saying together, and all the suns

shouted for joy, where were you? Then? Verse sixteen, hast

thou entered into the springs of the sea, and hast

thou walked in the search of the depth. This question

speaks to the concept of God. Job was here, he

is questioning his purpose. His question is friends, and God

starts out with these questions. They had words without knowledge,

and Job and his three friends, they were the wise

men of the day. They were the respected, They were

the problem solvers. They were the ones people went to

get their question answered, the ones you look to for

the solutions. And I believe the wisdom of the world

will warp our concept of God. Yet today and somewhat

considering some of these questions is healthy for us in

thinking about who God is, remembering who God is, and

Job's answer in verse in chapter forty we have Job's

first answer. I think I'm going to read that starting

at verse three. And Job answered to the Lord and said, behold,

I am vile. What shall I answer THEE? I will

lay mine hand upon my mouth once have I spoken,

But I will not answer you a twice. But I

will proceed no further. And he God answers again, gird

up thou lines like a man. I will demand of

THEE and declare that unto me. And it goes on,

and God has two more chapters of questions, considering Behemoth

and Leviathan, and Job is just beautiful. Then Job answered

to the Lord verse chapter forty two. Then Job answered

the Lord and said, I know that thou canst do everything,

and that no thought can be withholden from THEE. Who

is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I

uttered that I understood not things too wonderful for me

which I knew not. And we just see Job, well,

we should read the next two verses. Yet here I

beseech THEE, and I will speak. I will demand of

THEE and declare thou unto me. I have heard of

THEE by the hearing of the ear, but now my

eye seeth THEE. And we just see Job having that

clarification of who God is and those in his concept

of God. We need to move on First Kings nineteen

or we're going back in our Bible. We're taking them chronologically.

And this question from God, the last question, the questions

of Job, speaks of the concepts of God. This one

speaks the concepts of our self. Again. A story of

Elijah and this if you remember, Elijah had just come

through victory on Mount Carmel and but yeah, it was

running for his life and he it was just coming

off of fasting. I'm Mount Horror for forty nights. I'd

like to drill down there, but we're gonna keep going.

And verse nine of First Kings nineteen and he came

thither into a cave and lodge there, and behold, the

word of the Lord came to him, and he said,

what doest thou here, Elijah? What dost thou here, Elija?

And he said, I've been very jealous for the Lord,

God of Hope, for the children of Israel have forsaken

the Covenant thrown down thine altars and slain thy prophets

with the sword, and I even I only am left

and seek my life to take it away. And then

God told him to go stand, and this great wind came,

the earthquake, the fire, and finally a still small voice,

and Elijah heard it. He wrapped himself in his mantle,

and God spoke to him through this still small voice

and says, again, what do so hear, Elijah? And he

said again, he gives the same answer, Aye, even I.

And God told him to return to anoint someone, and

that I have seven thousand in Israel who have not

bowed their knees. And I think when we look at Elijah,

the man of faith that he was, if he was discouraged,

we might expect that that could come to us sometime.

But if you're discouraged today, God is asking that question,

what are you doing here? What are you doing here?

And we see even Elijah didn't see things clearly. He

was looking from a perspective and he was missing these

seven thousand that had not bowed their knee and he

had just come off this great victory that we read about.

And it's hard for us to make sense out of it,

but to him, to him, it was hindering his vision.

This discouragement. God is great and God is good. And

whether we're we're concentrating our thoughts on self or living

on a high experience, it can hinder our vision of

seeing who God really is. Isaiah six, Isaiah, and this

is the last question I have here, the question of

God this morning. And remember this is where Isaiah and

the dedication to the temple. And they heard the I'm

going to read through verse seven.

I mean.

From verse three. Nah from one makes more sense in

here that king Ziah died. I saw also the Lord

sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and his

train filled the temple. Above it stood seraphims. Each one

had six wings, and with twenty covered his face, and

with twenty covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

And one cried onto another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy,

is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full

of his glory. And the posts of the temple were

moved at the voice of him that cried, and the

house was filled with smoke. Then said I woe is me,

for I am undone, because I am a man of

unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a

people of unclean lips, and I have seen the King,

the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims

unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which

he had taken with the tongs from off the altar,

and he laid it upon my mouth. And lo, this

hath touched thy lips, and iniquity is taken away, and

I sin purged. And we're going to stop there before

we go to this question a little bit, and just

think about Isaiah. Here the chapter before, he said, woe

unto them verse eight, woe to them, verse eleven, woe

unto them, verse eighteen, woe onto them, verse twenty, woe

unto them, verse twenty one, woe into them, verse twenty two.

There may be more, but he's saying, whoa. He was

good at this, and he was denouncing evil. But when

he went into the holiness of the Lord, what did

he say? He said, woe is me, for I am undone.

And angel brought that coal and touched his lips, and

then he was prepared for God to ask him a

question verse eight. Also, I heard the voice of the

Lord saying, whom shall I send and who will go

for us? And here is a question that was answered

simply of the questions I've asked this morning of God's question,

here am I send me? And that's the difference. That's

the difference that happens when we can go from woe

is them to woe is me? Is that we can

answer that question, who will go for us? Who will go? Here?

Am I send me? You know, God, not only we

think of the confidence of God in man And that

verse in Sundays go this morning about the spirit of

man being the candle of the Lord. That's his desire

in his way, of what he desires for us. And

we think you think of the confidence of God in

Job chapter one, when he says, did you consider my

servant job? Did you consider my servant job? God not

only asked Job questions, He asked him about Job. So

this morning, what is your name? Is it Jacob or Israel?

The surplanter or the Prince of God? Let's have a song.