When God Asks Questions
When the Word of the Lord finds you, sometimes He will ask you questions He already has the answers to. Our responses are usually along the lines of stupid or human. Or both. We saw it with Elijah, who was hiding in a cave after slaying 450 prophets of Baal. He feared for his life. To jog your memory, Jezebel received the report that Elijah had killed the prophets of Baal. She sent word to Elijah, promising to murder him just as he had murdered her prophets. Elijah then fled for his life.
The Word of the Lord found him and asked him the same question twice: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God was not surprised or drawing a blank on what had happened forty days prior. He was helping Elijah locate himself.
“I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” 1 Kings 19:10 NKJV
After Elijah tells God what God already knows, God tells Elijah the truth: “Then the Lord said to him: ‘Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus… It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’” 1 Kings 19:15–18 NKJV
What other questions do we see throughout Scripture that God asks His children?
Where are you? Why are you troubled? Who told you? What have you done? Where are you going, and where have you come from? What is that in your hand? What do you see? Why did you laugh? How long? Did I not say? Have you not heard? Have I not commanded you? Have I not sent you? Those questions always lead to revelation, a promise, a necessary rebuke, a warning, a reset, or a reviving. They expose us and enlighten us to the truth, if we choose to engage.
He asked Adam, “Where are you?” and, “Who told you that you were naked?” Adam exposed his own shame. Eve realized where she had been deceived by the serpent. Genesis 3:9, 11 NKJV
He asked Cain, “What have you done?” It revealed the seriousness of the act committed against Abel. Cain could not bear his punishment. Genesis 4:10 NKJV
He asked Hagar, “Where have you come from, and where are you going?” Hagar was honest. She was running. God responded to her helplessness with a promise. She left her wilderness with a word from the Lord. Genesis 16:8 NKJV
He asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” Moses responded, “A rod.” But God needed to reveal the power backing Moses for the assignment He was sending him on. The rod turned into a snake, then back into a rod once Moses took hold of it. Exodus 4:2 NKJV
He asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh?” Sarah claimed she had not laughed. She lied. Sarah laughed because the thought of becoming pregnant at her old age was ridiculous. God’s response was to double down and promise again. Genesis 18:13 NKJV
He asked Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” 1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV
He asked Jeremiah, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” Jeremiah 1:11 NKJV
He asked Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel 37:3 NKJV
He asked Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV
He asked Gideon, “Have I not sent you?” Judges 6:14 NKJV
God does not ask empty questions. He does not waste words.
So, whether you find yourself in a cave, in a garden, or in your wilderness, engage with God. His questions are not merely rhetorical. He expects an answer. Answer Him, so He can tell you the truth.
