Are Questions Acceptable To The Almighty? - Part Two

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:10 (KJV)

Last week I shared that even though we announce our affinity and assurance about the Word of God (the Scriptures), there will be occasions when we wrestle with questions regarding God’s purposes and plans for our lives as well as the world in which we live. Questions of why, when, what and how are sourced from our souls that are searching for answers. So, are questions acceptable to the Almighty? The answer is yes, absolutely. But what is most important is not whether we should question God, but in what way and what is the motive behind our inquiry.

Asking the Almighty, God our Father, is not in itself incorrect. Prophets, patriarchs, potentates, and plain people put forward questions for God with respect to the timing and details of the Lord’s plan. For instance, let’s peruse over the prophet Habakkuk’s petition to Jehovah.

“O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.” Habakkuk 1:2-3 (KJV)

When we consider this issue of questioning the Almighty, we will discover that the Scriptures record a significant number of individuals seeking answers from God. And just like our opening passage, a number of these questions are compelling entreaties of the persecuted who are eager for God’s intervention and salvation. Although God does not always answer our questions in the way we would like or want, we must hold on to the truth that a sincere question from an honest heart will readily receive from God. Conversely, disingenuous questions are a different issue. It is entirely different to wonder why God allowed a certain event than it is to directly question the faithfulness and goodness of God.

In closing, wrestling with worries is different from questioning God’s sovereignty and criticizing His character. Bottom line: an honest and humble question is not a sin, but a bitter, suspicious, and rebellious heart is. Our omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscience God is not overwhelmed by questions. God invites us and embraces the prospects of communion with us.

We are allowed to ask the Almighty questions, but we should not expect an answer unless we are genuinely interested in His reply to our request. God knows our hearts and knows whether we are sincerely seeking Him to enlighten us. It is the disposition of our heart that determines whether it is right or wrong to question God.

Since we are absolutely accepted by the Almighty, ask with hearts arrested by humility.

For the Glory of God,

PBKSR