“Questions of God”
Throughout history – Biblical history – there have been moments when answers have been required of God.
These moments have centred on questions.
Questions asked by humans.
Sometimes these questions have been asked out of desperation.
Sometimes out of rebellion.
Some are not so much questions as much as statements. But they are still couched in terms of a question.
Kind of dressed up but it is easy to see through the camouflage. They are accusations levelled at God.
I suppose at one level it seems extraordinary that men or women would risk asking an almighty God questions as if He has a case to answer.
Yet – often that is exactly how it was.
And God does not simply show amazing restraint – there are times when He actually seems to encourage it!
But not all questions have an edge to it – or are irreverent.
Some are asked out of deep fear and pain.
Some are asked but were not really expecting an answer.
It is a good exercise to look at these questions from the Bible.
Because we find something of ourselves in them.
We might be shocked at some of the questions and maybe could never imagine talking to God like that.
But maybe under our shock – there is a connection. Maybe at the very least a curiosity as to how God might answer.
So this morning – let’s pause and peruse these questions. They are but a sample but they serve as a good representation.
And as we do survey these questions – you might like to do two things.
Stand on the Road to Emmaus with the Risen Christ as He talks about how He fulfils all scripture.
And second, allow the question you have of God to form and rise from your heart.
So let’s begin…
One
One of the first questions asked of God is a shocker.
Two brothers – Cain and Abel offer gifts to God as worship and Cain’s is not accepted while Abel’s is.
Cain becomes very angry and God counsels him to master the sin crouching at the door of his life.
He doesn’t and he murders his brother.
God asks where Abel is and Cain asks God “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9).
Oh dear!!
A question of God. Of sorts.
It is defensive, angry, bitter.
A question which actually tumbles through the pages of scripture and through generations to this day.
A question which is so often asked with a sense of disbelief – “Are you telling me I’m expected to watch out for others? That I am somehow expected to care!?”
And all the while – the question is an attempt to distance ourselves from righteous and compassionate responsibility.
All the while the question is not interested in an answer.
It is just an attempt to kick over the traces of our murderous anger, bitterness and unforgiveness of others.
“Am I my brother’s keeper?”
At its heart it is a question which is really asking God “What right does He have to interfere? What right does He have expecting this of me?”
It is a non-question which is really saying “Leave me alone – I have done what I have done and will do what I will do”.
Two
Another question then…
"But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”" (Genesis 15:2, NIV)
Here is the question of one who has such longing in their heart; one who has faith but it does not seem enough.
One who is pained by life and the pain is intensified because God promises.
But doesn’t seem to deliver.
“O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain barren…”
These things collide.
Faith, pain, longing, promise, impossibility.
So God is asked…
“What can you give me because it is hopeless and where this heading is more than I can live with…?”
It has a slight sense of demand about it. But not irreverently so.
There is an edge of hopelessness and exasperation.
It is a question asked in response to a promise.
God had just said He would be Abram’s shield and his reward would be very great.
Abram’s response – his question – was “That sounds nice and lovely and all. But it is not really helping. It is not actually making any difference to my life here and the pain that we are experiencing here”
“What can you give me which will actually make a difference? We are childless and we have no future!”
So this is the question of God where there is a gap between His promises and what we perceive life to really be like and to really be about.
It kind of reminds God that while His promises are heart-warming – they don’t seem to be grounded in reality.
So the question is asked.
Kind of trying to jolt God out of a “religious and out-of-touch” existence.
Three
God appears to Moses in a burning bush.
He tells Moses that He has heard the cries of His people in captivity and that now He is going to do something about it.
And Moses is going to help.
Moses dodges and weaves and then asks a question which is a bit comical.
Kind of like – “If what You are saying is true, if I decide to go along with this…”
He asks…
"Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”" (Exodus 3:13)
There is the sense to that – in response to God’s call – that God has not actually thought this through.
That Moses’ question is actually revealing a blindspot in God’s masterplan.
His question is – “I don’t really know You. The Israelites don’t really know You. You haven’t actually been around a lot lately. So if they ask Who has sent me – just Who exactly do I say has? Do you see the problem God?”
A question?
More like an excuse.
More like trying to convince oneself that this is not something one wants to be involved with and with a few well-crafted and supposedly well-thought out questions to put God off His stride – one might just be able to avoid serving God on this occasion in this way.
But the question is asked even so.
I wonder if it is a question in your heart.
Four
Job had a lot of questions.
I doubt many would begrudge him his questions.
This intriguing and mysterious story and activity of God.
This story which is definitely about suffering and the activity or apparent inactivity of God in the world.
Just exactly what is God doing?
Why this gap between the assaults of life and the absence of God.
In fact – more than the absence of God…
God actively working against us.
Job asks - "Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in?" (Job 3:23, NRSV)
It is a question which is essentially a statement. “God – You are not helping!”
The question is asked a lot in the prayers of the people of God throughout the generations.
This question from Psalms is a good example.
"Why, O Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1)
It is a question which conveys a sense that we expected more of God; expected more to come of our faith and trust in Him.
There is a vacuum.
A yawning gap in life.
God is absent and silent.
It is similar to Abram’s question – but the difference is that at least with Abram God was talking.
Just not making a lot of sense.
Here – this Job and Psalm question not is not talking or acting and that doesn’t make sense!
This is a question that is commonly found in the human heart – but not always admitted to.
Five
Not all questions get at God.
There are moments when God is evident. When He overwhelms us.
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalm 8:3-4, NIV)
It is a question which is worshipful, humble, full of wonder – it is an offering of sorts.
The question is a revelation really.
In that moment you do get it. You do see the majesty of God and His power – and you do have a perspective of Him and humanity.
It is a question which has at its heart has gratitude and hope.
Exhilaration.
Questions.
I wonder if any of those resonated with you.
Whether any spoke for you.
Whether any gave you a script to question God about what you face in life; about what you need from God; about what God needs to provide an answer for?
He’s hard to nail down. God.
Wouldn’t it be good if we could?
Nail Him down.
Have Him in the one place to give an answer to these kinds of questions.
Well – we have and we can.
We even have an attorney of sorts.
Someone who can marshal the evidence against God – gather up the kinds of questions we have considered and put them to God in one place at one time.
Someone who can represent the concerns of humanity and ask divinity who, what and why?
That person is Pontius Pilate.
And He had God before him on trial and the questions Pilate asked essentially collapse the questions of the ages directed at God.
From Cain onwards.
Questions which contain anger, accusation, wonder, hope, pain, demands, avoidance – all of it.
In the series of questions Pilate put to Christ – they are all there if you look for them.
And listen.
One
“Are you the king of the Jews?” (Jn 18:33)
Pilate was a tired man – tired of being in Palestine and tired of the Jews and dealing with them.
He found them troublesome and he didn’t get their customs and beliefs.
And so he blundered and offended.
And now they bring him this man called Jesus and he says to the Jews – you try Him. It’s nothing to do with me!!
But they insist and have a good “legal” argument as to why Pilate has to deal with Jesus.
And so there with God before Him – he questions Him.
“Are You the king of the Jews?”
“Are You the cause of this annoyance in life? Are You the One making things difficult? Are You the One I can blame for the reason I am in this dead-end part of the world in this dead-end job?”
It is a question full of emotion, pent-up frustration – the only joy here is that at last might actually be an object to direct his frustration at.
God treated quite ordinarily and as an object of no importance – except that He can take the blame for whatever.
(Jesus answered - “Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about Me?”)
Two
“What is it You have done? (Jn 18:35)
Pilate expected an answer which described some crime.
Instead he received a somewhat mysterious answer.
Jesus spoke of another reality, another world, another government.
“My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My Kingdom is from another place”.
“What is it You have done?”
A question directed to a Man; a Man Who then speaks about richer and deeper things.
Things of promise.
Things which could change this life.
But the question hangs in the air. Dripping with disappointment and tiredness.
“What is it You have done?”
“This Kingdom is not only not of this world – there seems little evidence that it changes this world”.
“What is it You have done?”
Three
In this exchange – Pilate quips “You are a king then!”
Jesus said:
“You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me”.
“What is truth?” John 18:38
He didn’t wait for an answer to that.
Pilate left and went out to Jesus’ accusers.
And so that question too hung there – “What is truth?”
Asked for many people.
People who would love to breathe in the “truth” which sets free.
Which gives understanding and changes things.
Really changes things – like people.
“What is truth?”
Asked by a man who did not wait for an answer. Asked by a man who did not expect an answer.
Given up believing there could be an answer to that.
But the answer was right with him.
Before him.
And without realising – Pilate then presented the answer to those there that day.
To us today.
He had Jesus flogged, a crown of thorns put on His head, dressed Him in a purple robe and brought Him out.
And declared:
“Here is the Man!” John 19:5
The answer to “What is truth?”
Four
Then it comes out the reason the Jews want Him crucified is because He claimed to be the Son of God.
This begins to unnerve Pilate seriously.
So now the question becomes very pointed.
“Where do You come from?” (John 19:9)
(no answer)
Now the possibility is there that this is Someone not be trifled with.
Someone Who you do not see everyday.
“Where do You come from?”
It is asked with a heightened sense.
Five
But it is not answered.
Not uncommon for questions asked of God.
So Pilate – like us – reverts to a position of frustration.
“Do You refuse to speak to me? Don’t You realise I have power to either free You or to crucify You?” (John 19:9-10)
He forgets himself – miscalculates his power and position.
Oh – on the surface of it it seems correct. He is the governor afterall.
But he failed to see that He was truly in the presence of God.
Oh – how often we can find ourselves in such a position!!
Forgetting our place; failing to recognise Who it is we are standing before.
Flexing our muscles and making demands and reminding God how things ought to be in the world.
“You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of a greater sin”.
“Do You refuse to speak to me?”
Again – the answer was unwittingly given by Pilate again.
“Here is your King!” (Jn 19:14).
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New