Digging Deeper – When God Asks Questions
When he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” The LORD said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
Genesis 18:8-10 (ESV)
WHEN GOD ASKS QUESTIONS
As Abraham’s three visitors sit down to eat, they (led by the pre-incarnate Christ) ask the patriarch where his wife is. The moment is important for at least two reasons. First, the Divine identity of the visitor is hinted at. He calls Abraham’s wife by her name (note also that he uses her new name, Sarah) which, being a stranger, he would otherwise not know. It would be uncustomary to inquire about the wife of his host if he had not been there for the purpose of discussing the promise concerning her. Second, he asks where Sarah is, knowing the answer already. He, being God, is not ignorant as to her whereabouts. God knows where Sarah is. In fact, we see that he even knows what she is thinking, for he addresses the thoughts that she had “within herself” from a distance (v.12). Then why does He ask? In asking, he makes occasion for her to draw near and to consider what she believes about Him.
The scene harkens back to the events after the fall in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve hid from God after their disobedience, He asks them, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9). The question is a sort of summons to appear before the Lord, which is in itself an act of grace. Pay attention when God asks you questions. The answers are not for Him – He learns nothing new in obtaining an answer. Rather, we are the beneficiaries of giving the account. The questions are put forth to give us an opportunity for self-examination. Has God been asking you questions and, if so, what does the response tell you about yourself?
Ryan Hoffer serves as NextGen Production Director at NorthStar. He holds an M.Div in Church History and enjoys playing the harp. He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Acworth and have three children.