2023.12.17 About Questioning God
Notes
Transcript
About Questioning God
About Questioning God
Psalm 13 • Matthew 11:1-11
1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples,
3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to look for someone else?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:
5 those who are blind receive sight and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is any person who does not take offense at Me.”
7 As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces!
9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
After thousands of years waiting for Jesus, many people questioned whether he was the real deal. Last week, we talked about John preparing the way for Jesus as Messiah. In today’s passage, John the Baptist is questioning his faith in Jesus.
John was related to Jesus if you remember … how? Cousin of some type (John’s mom, Elizabeth … Mary’s relative … Luke 1 … not specifically ‘cousin’, generic term is used which just means ‘relative’)
So, John has likely heard this story countless times throughout his life. He was the one who baptized Jesus, saw the dove come down from the sky on him, and heard the voice from Heaven declaring, “This is my Son, in whom I’m well pleased.” All the same John!
But you see, he’s become quite outspoken against some of the political leaders, and one of them (Herod) took offense, and had John imprisoned. He’s been in prison for quite some time, and John is pretty sure his execution is coming soon … so he’s wondering if all he spent his life on was a ruse.
John is questioning Jesus’ divinity … Is this guy Messiah or not?
Well we ask the same questions today, don’t we? Are we more likely to question if Jesus was real, or if he’s really coming back.
Is it okay to ask those questions?
Well, let me ask you … If you walked into your boss’ office and questioned her credentials, what kind of response do you think you’d get?
►►► ANGRY BOSS
“Who do you think you are, questioning me?
What’s the meaning of you questioning me?!?!”
►►►SO IS IT OKAY...
So, is it okay to question God?
[pause] Why or why not?
Jesus doesn’t seem to be angry in verse 4, when he says:
4Jesus responded, "Go, report to John what you hear and see.
5Those who were blind are able to see. Those who were crippled are walking. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. The poor have good news proclaimed to them.
6 Happy are those who don't stumble and fall because of me." (Mat 11:4-6 CEB)
Is that perhaps just because John is a cousin, or because he knows John better than others … or is this a pattern with God?
Jesus is anything but angry. Is it perhaps because of the nature of his question? John isn’t questioning God’s character … he’s asking Jesus if he really is Messiah. Are those questions different?
Yes. They are. “Are you Messiah?” is a very different question than one that’s really more of a “How dare you!”
►►►People question God throughout all of the Psalms:
Psalm 10:1–2 (NLT)
1 Yahweh, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
2 The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
►►►
17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. We have not violated your covenant.
18 Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.
19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home. You have covered us with darkness and death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,
21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
22 But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.
23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you look the other way? Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
25 We collapse in the dust, lying face down in the dirt.
26 Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
►►►
1 O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?
►►►
9 We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end.
10 How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.
►►►
1 I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me!
2 When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude
►►►
7 Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me?
8 Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude
►►►But it’s not just the Psalms:
Judges 6:13–14 (CEB)
13 But Gideon replied to him, “With all due respect, my Lord, if Yahweh is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his amazing works that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Didn’t Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has abandoned us and allowed Midian to overpower us.”
14 Then Yahweh turned to him and said, “You have strength, so go and rescue Israel from the power of Midian. Am I not personally sending you?”
The Scriptures are filled with people questioning God. The most overt IMO is Job!
Job was one of the wealthiest men of his day. Bit by bit, he lost everything, and he challenges God for his misery:
►►►Job 10
1 “I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.
2 I will say to God, ‘Don’t simply condemn me— tell me the charge you are bringing against me.
3 What do you gain by oppressing me? Why do you reject me, the work of your own hands, while smiling on the schemes of the wicked?
4 Are your eyes like those of a human? Do you see things only as people see them?
5 Is your lifetime only as long as ours? Is your life so short
6 that you must quickly probe for my guilt and search for my sin?
7 Although you know I am not guilty, no one can rescue me from your hands.
8 “ ‘You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me.
9 Remember that you made me from dust— will you turn me back to dust so soon?
10 You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.
11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together.
12 You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.
13 “ ‘Yet your real motive— your true intent—
14 was to watch me, and if I sinned, you would not forgive my guilt.
15 If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I’m innocent, I can’t hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery.
Deep crying out. Job is “Deep questioning” God!
God waits several chapters before he answers, but when he does, Job immediately recognizes he has stepped closer to the line than he wants to be:
►►► Job 40
Job 40:3–5 (NLT)
3 Then Job replied to Yahweh,
4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5 I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”
About Questioning God
About Questioning God
You see, asking God questions is no problem at all. John is asking Jesus for clarity. Essentially … “Have I misunderstood something?” and Jesus answers John’s question. Granted, he doesn’t answer with a simple yes or no … but when has Jesus ever answered a question with a simple yes or no.?
Job challenges God’s judgment and accuses him of being unjust to him! Perhaps at some point in your life you can relate with Job’s cry of “IT’S NOT FAIR!” Our human nature easily carries us away from asking questions of God into accusing Him.
In his response, God cautions Job about accusing him rather than questioning (and he scares Job pretty good with his warning) ... but in the end, God replaces all that Job lost, and even allows him to decide what will be done with his friends who have spoken wrongly about God’s character!
Yahweh is a big god! He can handle your questions. The only caution I would give is this: remember who you’re talking to before you accidentally slip into making brazen accusations.
If your request is for confirmation of who He is, God is more than willing to answer. If you’re accusing him of somehow wronging you … let me know beforehand … ‘cause I’d like to get out of the building before you do it.
Simple logic would teach that you’ll never get the answers you seek if you’re too afraid to ask the questions. And God designed logic … so ask your questions. Otherwise, you’ll remain ignorant and afraid.
Let’s pray.