"Questioning God"

"And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!" Joshua 7:7

I grew up being taught that you don't question God. You just accept whatever comes your way and trust Him in spite of it. To question shows lack of faith and disrespect. And besides, who are you to question God? I have since learned that it is actually all right to question Him. He even invites us to come and "reason together with Him".

If you look throughout the scriptures, the Patriarchs and many great men and women of God questioned. Mary the mother of Jesus questioned- not what God was doing- but how she could have a baby since she had not been with a man. The disciples were always questioning Jesus about what He was doing and why.

There are questions and then there are questions. Some questions are to gain knowledge simply because we don't understand. It is all right to ask those questions and it is all right to inquire of the Lord for guidance and direction. But then there are questions that are accusing of who God is and what He is doing. Those are the ones that we have been taught not to ask. But this morning I want to clarify that we can ask those questions. If we are confused by something; if we think that the Lord is behind it; if we think He is doing this or that to us; then we actually need to ask and question Him.

Joshua thought that the Lord had turned on them and given them over to their enemy so he questioned God in a accusing fashion- "Why have You brought us here to destroy us?" Did God rebuke Joshua? Did He punish or kill him for asking? No, He gave him his answer. The enemy would have us keep quiet and keep our questions to ourselves- but never "question" God. Had Joshua not questioned he would have never discovered the reason for their defeat. Once he questioned, God told him that there was "sin in the camp". Through his questioning the answer to the problem was revealed and Joshua then corrected the situation.

God wants us to be honest with Him, even if it means we question, because it is through our questions that He can give us the answer and the solution.

Have a great day. If you don't understand, it is all right to question God.

For further reading:
Joshua 7
Isaiah 1:18
Luke 1:34

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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