Have you ever asked you children who they think they are to question you? Have you thought they had a lot of guts to question you? Did you feel as though your authority as a parent was being questioned? Have you done the same thing to God?
Having our children question our authority or our ability to provide for them can be offensive. We may feel indignant or threatened. Our confidence may be shaken. We may even begin to question ourselves. Perhaps our child has hit a nerve, touched on something we were already pondering.
But what happens when we question God? First, his confidence is never shaken. Second, he does not feel threatened. Third, God will not allow anyone to challenge his authority. He certainly did not allow Job to challenge his authority. No, he called Job out. He let Job know in no uncertain terms that he had no idea all about the plans he was fulfilling.
When we question God with no real understanding, he may remind us just how much we don’t know, as well. Yet, when we question God with a yearning for understanding, God is compassionate in his answers. It is not as much about questioning God but about the state of our hearts. A heart that wants to understand approaches God humbly. A proud heart causes us to shake our fists and demand what we think is right. God quickly sees the difference and reacts appropriately.
I pray we all question God with a humble heart. I pray we yearn to understand God’s plan for us. I pray each one of us exchange our proud hearts for humble hearts as we come before God. Ask your questions of God. Approach God with a humble heart. Seek to understand. Trust God to answer.
Job 38:1-2
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”
Marty Pressey 