When he was a child, Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel’s mother would greet him the same way each day after school. She never asked, “What did you learn today?” Rather, she always asked: “Did you have a good question today?”
Having a good question makes all the difference. The prophet Malachi believed that Israel’s questions, emerging from their despair, revealed misguided assumptions: God, why aren’t you giving those wicked people the punishment they deserve? God, why aren’t we receiving the prosperity we desire?
Israel bemoaned how “all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight” and then, to make certain they’d made their point, the people leveled a despairing query: “Where is the God of justice?” (Malachi 2:17). They also made the converse argument. Not only were the wicked getting a pass, but Israel wasn’t receiving the blessing they believed was due them. “What’s the use of serving God?” the people asked. “What have we gained by obeying his commands?” (Malachi 3:14).
God graciously listened to Israel’s difficult questions. The Psalms reveal that He meets us in our confusion. Israel’s questions, however, revealed their disturbing commitment to retribution—the wicked must be punished and the righteous rewarded. Like them, we can also assume we’re the ones who should be blessed while everyone else should be reprimanded. But God isn’t concerned with retribution. He seeks renewal.
The better questions, Malachi suggested, would be to ask, Who will be faithful to God? and Who will have their life remade by God’s power? It’s foolish to ask whether or not we’re getting what we deserve. It would be far better to ask whether or not we’ll follow God into the good life He’s provided.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 28:15-31
More:
Read Job 38:1-7 and consider God’s questions for Job.
Next:
What kinds of questions do you ask God most often? Are there better questions you could ask Him? What are they?
BearPair on November 19, 2016 at 6:11 am
Thanks, Winn, for this excellent reminder of the importance of questions. For me, the most profound lesson comes in knowing that, regardless of the question, our God hears… He listens to us. Psalm 55.17 says, “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” What an encouragement!
Gary Shultz on November 19, 2016 at 6:29 am
Winn the question almost brings a smile, “why aren’t we receiving the prosperity we desire?” We read the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, so to me, this is a lot like poking a stick in a hornets nest. Just because we don’t see or get what we think we should have, is not good evidence of a lack of God’s attention. In Moses’s day people would conjure up those thoughts as they felt life had not given them the position of intelligence and power they somehow unjustly missed. Those people got God’s attention and some had a taste, and some got what they deserved. Yes, the question is the better to ask God how we may be part of His plan, to serve in a humble way to bring honor to Him. And yes, for those believers, the questions is all about being faithful. Viewing through eyes of hope and trust as we listen closely for God’s direction and knowing it is His will and direction in life, for our good too. Thanks Winn
sim jing ying on November 19, 2016 at 10:02 am
I normally ask God to give me and the people I pray for his wisdom and not of human wisdom to guide us. There are better questions I could ask Him. The questions would be can people be saved from hell like in 1 Peter where Jesus saved eight persons imprisoned.
sandy229 on November 19, 2016 at 10:35 am
Thank you Winn for this reminder that God has everything in control and we shouldn’t question Him.
In Malachi, the last of the old testament prophets, we see that Israel once again turned away from God and His ways. Yet, God, in His infinite mercy and compassion, continues to keep His eye on the faithful few who remain dedicated to Him. Sometimes believers tend to be spiritually nearsighted. We face the same temptation today as did God’s people in Malachi’s day: the temptation to look at ungodly circumstances around us and question God’s integrity and character. We must not mistake God’s patience for apathy. We need God’s eternal vision and to set our eyes on His desired outcome. His ways are higher than our ways, so let us walk in godliness honoring the Lord.
Malachi 3:13-18 tells us that we should not confuse God’s patience with indifference and we mustn’t grow weary in well doing. Rather we should be encouraged because the Lord knows all who fear Him. He has kept a record of all we have done because we honor and esteem His name. (Galatians 6:9)
So we should take heart because we are the Lord’s precious possession. He loves us and calls us His own. (Isaiah 62:3).
Stay fully devoted to the Lord. He promises to honor, heal, and bless you.
yinka on November 22, 2016 at 8:28 am
What the use of serving God.
Very good question. Its important needful and necessary to see where our attention and concern is to revolve around. Its infinitely more profound than ‘serving God’.
Its resolves around the fight harder than ever to keep beholding God and beholding visions, journeying through life, walking with God, running with God, soaring with Him, passing through the delicious phases; the wilderness phase, Lebanon phase, affliction phase and the promise land phase of our relationship with Him, being processed and prepared, diligently and quickly making use of the opportunities and privileges, as we keep fighting harder than ever to keep making choices, and carrying out activities in there detailed of presentations, running through visions, being founded in God more and more ,moving from a perfect state to a more perfect state ,transforming from glory unto glory conforming into the image of the son more and more, living up to what we are predestined to be . hmm… delicious.
Its great to be a beneficiary of these, as we are beneficiaries of the extra ordinary team (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy spirit) and the extraordinary relationship with and in the extraordinary team, and as we are beneficiaries of His provisions (the seeing,the accepting,the receiving of the word, the hiding of the word within ourselves, inclining our ears to wisdom and more..)Oh who is man that you are mindful of him…As we are called, chosen, sent, justified and glorified, moving from a perfect state to a more perfect state transforming from glory unto glory conforming into the image of the son more and more, living up to what we are predestined to be .
And what have we gained;
Transforming from glory unto glory conforming into the image on the son, partaking in His divine nature, manifesting as sons of God, living up to what we predestined to be, is an opportunity and privilege, invaluable, and fortunate we are to receive.Come to think of it, God did not make us robots, Oh who is man that you are mindful of him …hmm delicious.
*worthy of note
That we keep fighting harder, as we keep exhibiting a fight harder than ever disposition. -of every battle of the warrior is with confused noise(praise) and more, continues… amidst whatever we may face.
That we have to keep seeing the concepts, counsels and more, the treasures, value, opportunity running through visions and the privilege that lie there in the word, continues… amidst whatever we may face.
That we keep seeing, the sweetness, the gain, the satisfaction that lies there in the word, the delight for the word, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, counsel, strength and the fear of the lord, the bearing of fruits, with our leaves not withering and more, continues … amidst whatever we may face.
That we keep seeing God being our shield and exceeding great reward continues… amidst whatever we face
That we keep seeing ourselves as being beneficiaries of the outpouring of His glory, honour, majesty and kingdom, continues… amidst whatever we may face.
This presenting itself in every iota of activity we carry out, through the growings, work and running through visions.
Hmmm delicious
yinka on November 22, 2016 at 8:36 am
What the use of serving God.
Very good question. Its important needful and necessary to see where our attention and concern is to revolve around. Its infinitely more profound than ‘serving God’.
Its resolves around the fight harder than ever to keep beholding God and beholding visions, journeying through life, walking with God, running with God, soaring with Him, passing through the delicious phases; the wilderness phase, Lebanon phase, affliction phase and the promise land phase of our relationship with Him, being processed and prepared, diligently and quickly making use of the opportunities and privileges, as we keep fighting harder than ever to keep making choices, and carrying out activities in there detailed of presentations, running through visions, being founded in God more and more ,moving from a perfect state to a more perfect state ,transforming from glory unto glory conforming into the image of the son more and more, living up to what we are predestined to be . hmm… delicious.
Its great to be a beneficiary of these, as we are beneficiaries of the extra ordinary team (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy spirit) and the extraordinary relationship with and in the extraordinary team, and as we are beneficiaries of His provisions (the receiving of the word, the hiding of the word within ourselves, inclining our ears to wisdom and more..)Oh who is man that you are mindful of him… As we are called, chosen, sent, justified and glorified, moving from a perfect state to a more perfect state transforming from glory unto glory conforming into the image of the son more and more, living up to what we are predestined to be .
And what have we gained;
Transforming from glory unto glory conforming into the image on the son, partaking in His divine nature, manifesting as sons of God, living up to what we predestined to be, is an opportunity and privilege, invaluable, and fortunate we are to receive.Come to think of it, God did not make us robots, Oh who is man that you are mindful of him …hmm delicious.
*worthy of note
That we keep fighting harder for all that is made mention of afore, as we keep exhibiting a fight harder than ever disposition. -of every battle of the warrior is with confused noise(praise) and more, continues… amidst whatever we may face.
That we have to keep seeing the concepts, counsels and more, the treasures, value, opportunity running through visions and the privilege that lie there in the word, continues… amidst whatever we may face.
That we keep seeing, the sweetness, the gain, the satisfaction that lies there in the word, the delight for the word, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, counsel, strength and the fear of the lord, the bearing of fruits, with our leaves not withering and more, continues … amidst whatever we may face.
That we keep seeing God being our shield and exceeding great reward continues… amidst whatever we face
That we keep seeing ourselves as being beneficiaries of the outpouring of His glory, honour, majesty and kingdom, continues… amidst whatever we may face.
This presenting itself in every iota of activity we carry out, through our growing, work and running through visions.
Hmm delicious