A letter appeared in our mail once again, that when we first saw it, presented us with a mystery. If you are like me, I can often tell or predict what message the various envelopes will tell me when they are opened. Some will tell me the status of my medical costs. Some will tell us that we have had certain amounts of money deducted from our bank account to pay a bill, others remind us that a payment is due for the service they rendered to us. Some are trying to get our attention for a service they provide but obviously are trying to make us open up their envelope by not disclosing what the business is. I'm on to them, since they come so regularly. Still others are just plain junk mail, and I wonder why they bothered to put something in the mail that almost everyone will toss without even opening up the envelope. But this one envelope did not seem to be trying to hide anything. It did have an ID on the front—but one that we didn't recognize. We turned it over and discovered a window. Showing through the window was MONEY, real money! Now that got our attention! Even though the mail was addressed to my husband, I opened it up (as he watched!) We don't often—almost never—get mail with visible money inside it! We like to receive money that we didn't have to earn! And I’m pretty sure we are not alone liking to receive free money. But—the name of the recipient was important to the senders. The letter stated that the small amount of money was free and came with the promise that there would be more sent if the directions were followed by the addressee—an over 18 male head of household that would fill out a survey online. It stated that he had been one of a select group to be part of an important study. Filling out surveys is not something that my husband ever likes to do and he usually passes on filling them out—usually passing them over to me to do if they must be filled out. I informed him that earning $25 by filling out a survey wasn't something hard to do. He did finally decide to do it but not without complaint. The survey was about who he was, married, age, homeowner, magazine usage, TV watched, etc......200-300 questions.
We found out that the promise of $25 to come within the week really was true! We now have an envelope with $25 in it as a thank you for completing the survey! And it expresses that he is valued as a participant! The company was telling us truth. We now have trust! But the $25 arrived in a very large mailing envelope that was a bit startling. It contained, along with the $25, a very thick booklet that is another survey!!! If it is filled out and returned—another $50 will be sent to us. While it seems daunting to fill out, still it is a rather easy $50 for someone who doesn't have other ways of earning money! And that reward of cash is good incentive! I am probably going to have to get involved on this one and give some help—maybe prodding?
These items in our mail started me to thinking about questions. When I went to college, I had to take a course that told me that everyone wants the answers to the big questions in life. This was interesting to me as I had never ever thought about those things. "Big questions in life" typically refer to fundamental, existential inquiries about our existence, including: "Where did I come from?", "Who am I?", "Why am I here?", "What is the meaning of life?", "How should I live?", "What happens after I die?", and "Is there a higher power?". I never wondered who I was and why I was here and what was the meaning of life. Trying to write answers to those questions for the class was incredibly difficult for me. I had to do some hard thinking during that class and today I don't even remember the name of the class!
Gad asks each of us to answer some questions. According to religious interpretations, some questions God wants us to answer include: "Where are you?" (referring to our spiritual state), "Do you love me?", "Do you trust me?", "Are you living a life that reflects my values?", "How are you treating others?", "Do you seek my guidance in your decisions?", and "Are you open to receiving my love and forgiveness?" These questions are essentially prompting self-reflection and a conscious choice to live a life aligned with God's will. Questions like that of the class I had to take. God asks these questions not because He doesn't know the answers, but to encourage introspection and personal growth by prompting us to actively consider our actions and motivations.
Transformation comes from questions, not answers. We often look to the Bible as the book of answers. How often, though, do we consider the challenging questions God asks? It has been noted that Jesus was asked 183 questions in the Gospels but directly only answered three. The Creator is teaching us as we teach children when they struggle with schoolwork: You learn more by doing than being fed an absolute answer.
Biblical examples:
In the Bible, the question "Where are you?" is the first question God asked Adam after he sinned, highlighting the importance of acknowledging our actions and taking responsibility.
Focus on relationship: Many of these questions are designed to deepen our relationship with God by encouraging us to examine our commitment to Him and our willingness to live according to His teachings. Why does God ask questions if he already knows the answer? God uses questions to force us to confront our own hearts. He questions us not because He needs to know and understand something about what's going on, but because He wants us to know and understand the truth of what's going on. In the Bible, God asked questions like "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9), "What are you doing here?" (1 Kings 19:9), "Where is your brother?" (Genesis 4:9), "Do you love me?" (John 21:16), "Why are you afraid?" (Mark 4:40), and "What is that in your hand?" (Exodus 4:2), questions often to prompt reflection and deeper understanding from the person being addressed, even though God already knows the answer due to his omniscience. While God is all-knowing, still He often asks questions to engage people in conversation, challenge their thinking, and encourage them to examine their hearts and motivations.
In the Old Testament:
"Where are you?"—God asks Adam in the Garden of Eden after he eats from the forbidden tree.
"What is that in your hand?"—God asks Moses when he is given the staff to perform miracles.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?”—Job 38:1-4 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He also said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me."
In the New Testament:
"Do you love me?"—Jesus asks Peter three times after Peter denies him.
"Why are you weeping?"—Jesus asks Mary at the tomb [John 20:15]
Many think the Bible exists to give me solutions to my everyday concerns and dilemmas. But then we realize we might be approaching God and the Bible from the wrong direction. It was as if God is saying, Eileen, rather than you always asking questions of me, start listening to the questions I have for you. The Old and New Testament questions serve as a starting point for genuine conversation with the Creator. He assures us that we're not starting the conversation with God from scratch. God has already begun it. We just need to plug into the conversation that is already going on.
As we are going to try to progress towards filling out the consumer survey with its 124 pages and try to earn our reward of cash, God offers a reward for answering His questions. His questions aren't listed on 124 pages, they don't have to be mailed back with answers. They will take us a lifetime to answer. But the reward will be far greater than $50! Our reward will be a lifetime reward! The reward of eternal life is a far greater incentive for answering God's Questions.
We can feel free to ask God any question you want, but keep in mind that some are usually more fruitful than others. And these five—“Who am I?”, “What if?”, “How long?”, “What can I offer?”, and “What must I do?”—are among the best questions to ask Him and then wait for His answers!
But-----answering His questions is the most important!
How will I choose to answer God’s Questions?