Top Ten Questions in the Bible
In honor of "Ask a Stupid Question Day," here are some whoppers from the Bible—but they're not really stupid.
The Boston Globe reminds us that today is “Ask a Stupid Question Day,” which is celebrated in many schools on the last school day in September, as an encouragement to learn by asking more questions (http://www.boston.com/yourlife/gallery/stupid_question/). The Boston Globe asks a few of its own, like: “What is the hokey pokey really all about?” and “When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?” In honor of “Ask a Stupid Question Day,” here are some whoppers from the Bible—but they’re not really stupid. Their answers make a life of a difference!
10. “Did God really say?”
Satan, appearing in the form of a snake, planted a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind (Genesis 3:1). It was the first step of his successful temptation: If Satan can get believers to misinterpret God’s words or, worse yet, put words in God’s mouth that he hasn’t spoken, he has dangled the bait and set the hook. Eve’s answer proved that she kinda knew what God said but kinda had her own thoughts, too. Know what God says (his revealed will) and what God doesn’t say (what might be his will, but also might not).
9. “Where are you?”
After Adam and Eve corrupted the world by introducing it to the evil of sin, the Bible says that God made a personal visit to the Garden of Eden. We might think he’s more than a little upset that his perfect creation has been ruined, like a hot-tempered dad looking for the unfortunate child who put a big scratch in his Lexus parked in the spot-free garage. But think about it. God already knows where Adam and Eve are hiding. He’s God. He knows everything. Then why ask (Genesis 3:9)? It’s his seeking mercy. His nurturing love that offers his wayward children an opening to come to him and confess. His initiatory grace that makes the first move—the only move, really—that forgives. Here in the first chapters of the Bible we see the first glimmers of the sparkling gem of God’s free and forgiving grace for sinners.
8. “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
After God announced to Moses from the burning bush that he was sending him to rescue the Israelites from Pharaoh’s clutches of slavery, Moses wonders if he’s really the man (Exodus 3:11). God basically replied, “I know what I’m doing. And don’t worry, I’m going with you.” You may doubt that you’re the person to perform the role God has assigned you in life. Good. Arrogance can think too much of me. But faith thinks much of God, and answers his call, knowing that an assignment from God is not just a command, but a promise.
7. “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me?”
The widowed Naomi, having moved with her husband to a foreign country, saw her Hebrew sons marry Moabite women who worshipped idols. Then her sons died and she had nothing left in Moab except misery. So she decided to return home to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:11), but her daughter-in-law Ruth pledged her allegiance to Naomi, and Naomi’s God, the Lord. “Where you go I will go.” Through the foreign, former idol worshipper, Ruth, God maintained a bloodline that eventually parented the Savior Jesus Christ. The only thing more determined than Ruth’s loyal love is God’s.
6. “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?”
Goliath, the giant Philistine, mocked David, the shepherd boy, who confronted his foul-mouthed threats (1 Samuel 17:43) with a sling, some stones, and his own gigantic trust in the Lord. David knew “it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s” (v. 47). The world’s weapons are nothing. It’s okay to use them—medicine, leadership strategies, statistical research, psychology, engineering, MVPs, and political giants—but not to rely on them more than God. He may indeed use them as an answer to our needs, but he doesn’t need them. What problem of yours can God save/solve for you today, his way, that you have relied only on the world’s weapons to answer? Why are you waiting to feel forgiven when God says that you are already forgiven, and strengthened to conquer your giants by trusting him?
5. “Does Job fear God for nothing?”
Satan reappears in the Scriptures taunting God (Job 1:9) about a pious, faith-filled man named Job whom God had made rich in this world. Satan’s logic: Job only follows God because God gives him good things; take the good things away and Job will no longer follow God. So God allowed Satan to take away Job’s family, livelihood, home, and even his health—all destroyed. Through various episodes of dialogue between Job and friends, it turns out Satan was half right. Job, as mature in faith as he was, occasionally slipped into self-righteous beliefs of “prosperity theology.” If I’m good, God will bless me. If God blesses me, I’ll be good. Not until Job’s dialogue with God himself does Job repent, realize the divine message of suffering to bring us closer to God, and draw closer to God in faith that accepts trouble from God as much as treasure.
4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
You may recognize these words as a questioning cry from Jesus, dying on the cross. Centuries before that moment, however, David penned them in Psalm 22:1, and continued, “Why are you so far from saving me?” David and David’s greater Son both had the same concern—where is God when it hurts? The rest of Psalm 22, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days later, gives answer to that cry. God is there; we just can’t always detect him in our hopelessness, can’t see him through our tears or hear his Word through the threats of this world pounding our ears. We can learn to look to his promises, however, so that even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death itself, we fear no evil.
3. “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin?”
The triune God of salvation in the Bible makes the exclusive claim of being the only one who can truly save sinners. Because he saves totally without relying on anything the sinner can contribute. Why would any sinner want to trust in any other god? Why would a person, proven by sin to be imperfect, prefer to believe that he or she can do any amount of good to earn the favor of some other religion’s god? How do you know it’s good enough? Rather, put your sure hope in the pardon of the only true God (Micah 7:18). Put your hope in his promise, that his words and works accomplish it all. There is no other who can save.
2. “Who do people say the Son of Man is? Who do you say I am?”
Jesus often asked his disciples about his identity (Matthew 16:13,15). Not that he was confused. The crowds were confused. Was he John the Baptist reincarnated? Elijah risen from the dead? a great prophet? a madman? Those who paid attention to the prophecies knew, and believed, that Jesus was the promised Christ, the Savior of all. In today’s confused world looking at Jesus as a good man, a philanthropist, a prophet with good things to say, or even a fabled religious figure—who do you say he is? And how does it show in your life decisions, your reputation among peers, what worries you, how you take care of your health, and where you spend your money? Jesus is Savior. Love him for it. Live for him above all.
1.“Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace?”
It’s a common question of Christians (Romans 6:15). We proclaim a free grace, which others interpret as a license to sin. But that’s how they see it. They don’t understand what it is to be snatched from the fire by our Deliverer, to be saved from death and a destiny of suffering in hell, to be made new in our mind and heart, to be given a life purpose that is otherworldly while yet making a meaningful difference in this world. Far be it from us to ever cheapen the grace of Jesus Christ by purposely sinning, preplanning a later forgiveness. Grace is absolutely free. And we are free to sin—if we really want to. Knowing this, we have indentured ourselves to be servants of Jesus Christ, and slaves to righteousness. It’s a battle we fight every day, and by our baptism into his death and resurrection, we can win. Under grace.
PRAYER: “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4,5). Amen.