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Divine Questions

by Lynn Austin

In the Old Testament, God sometimes asked probing questions of men and women. Can you name the person and/or the circumstances that prompted these questions?

1. When God asked, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" he was promising he would send:

A. victory to Joshua
B. an heir to Abraham
C. rain to Elijah

2. What person's reluctance to do God's will led God to ask, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"

A. Jonah
B. Moses
C. Gideon

3. Whose circumstances prompted God to ask, "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?"

A. Saul's disobedience
B. Israel's defeat
C. Jeremiah's lament

4. When God asked, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Isaiah answered:

A. "Here am I. Send me!"
B. "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
C. "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."

5. "Ask for whatever you want me to give you," God told King Solomon. He requested:

A. a long life
B. victory over his enemies
C. wisdom

6. Twice God asked him, "What are you doing here?" The man was:

A. Jacob fleeing Esau
B. Elijah hiding from Queen Jezebel
C. Adam hiding in the Garden of Eden

7. God's question, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" came in response to:

A. Job's suffering
B. Jacob's fears
C. David's sin

1. B. an heir to Abraham (Gen 18:14). Sarah laughed when God told her she'd give birth at the age of 90, but nothing is too hard for the Lord. Jesus emphasized this truth when he told his disciples, "with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26).

2. B. Moses (Ex. 4:11). To believers who share Moses' reluctance to speak, Jesus says, "make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict" (Luke 21:14-15).

3. C. Jeremiah's lament (Jer. 12:5). The suffering Jeremiah endured as God's prophet often discouraged him. Jesus reminds us to consider the high cost of following him: "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27).

4. A. "Here am I. Send me!" (Isa. 6:8). After his initial recognition that he was unclean and unworthy, Isaiah responded with a faithful servant's reply. Years later, Christ also revealed himself as God's faithful servant saying, "Here I am, I have come to do your will" (Heb. 10:9).

5. C. wisdom (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon's request pleased God, and so he gave him wealth, power, and a long life in addition to wisdom. Jesus promises that "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:14).

6. B. Elijah hiding from Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19:9,13). After witnessing God's victory on Mt. Carmel, Elijah was so afraid of Jezebel that he fled into the wilderness. When fear or discouragement overwhelms us, remember Jesus' heartfelt prayer, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" (John 14:1).

7. A. Job's suffering (Job 38:4). In seeking a reason for Job's suffering, his friends claimed a wisdom they didn't possess. If a Christian "lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all" (James 1:5).

Copyright © 1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
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