When a new year begins, everyone thinks about their priorities. I love ‘new beginnings’. But my priorities aren’t changing. My growing relationship with Jesus is still first. Since 2018, I have completed a Bible in One Year plan, each year, on the YouVersion app downloaded on my phone. There are many such plans to choose from; I happened to pick the one from Nicky and Pippa Gumbel in 2018 and have stuck with their plan each year. His commentary on Day 2 focuses on asking questions, specifically the first questions that are asked in Scripture. Fascinating!
If you’ve been a teacher… a parent… a leader… the feedback for the efficacy of your communication is often found in the questions that are asked as well as the answers that you provide. If you’ve been a student… a child… an employee or team member… your growth and progress is often determined by the environment where healthy questions can be asked and answered.
Healthy? Why do I have to save money for a rainy day? Because unexpected expenses will come in life and you will avoid unnecessary anxiety if you have prepared for such an occasion.
Unhealthy? Why do I have to learn this? Because I’m your mother and I said so. 🤦🏻♀️
There is much to ponder on those examples as I have used both approaches… I want to do the first, but when I’m tired, frustrated, angry, etc., the second comes naturally!
QUESTIONS and ANSWERS are fascinating. Both require an established relationship. We are lifelong learners – starting with our parents and families, then our schools. We learn in our jobs and our hobbies. We learn in our friendships, marriages, our children and grandchildren. Sometimes we get to ask the questions. Other times, we are called to give the answers. At all times, it is underlying attitude of the questioner and the responder that determines the health of the conversation. (Honesty, integrity, and love are underlying attitudes that help a conversation whereas deception, accusation, and dismissal kill any opportunity to grow.) When there is a lack of respect between the two parties, there is no growth – questions and answers both, lose their power.
In Christianity we are invited to a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father, through His Son – Jesus Christ. As this is a growing Spiritual relationship, not a familiar, natural one, we are given the Holy Spirit to guide us in this relationship. And we are given His Word, the Bible, to show us that this has been His redemptive plan since time began.
Christian faith is not blind faith. You are expected to ask questions to grow in your relationship with Him. Some people need other Christians to answer their questions, some need God to answer them – He does this in His Word and through His Spirit. (As His children, we ask Him in prayer. 1 John 5:14) As our relationship grows with the Lord, we will do both – speak with other Christians and study His Word.
Today we look at some ‘First Questions’ in Scripture.
FIRST QUESTION IN THE BIBLE – Genesis 3:1 – ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ (The first question in the Old Testament was asked by Satan. 😣)
FIRST QUESTION GOD ASKS – Genesis 3:9 – ‘Where are you?’ (Obviously God knew where Adam was, but did Adam? The reader has a lot to think concerning the devolvement of the relationship between God and man.)
FIRST QUESTION MAN ASKS – Genesis 4:9 – ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ (We are not far into scripture before this question tugs at our broken hearts. 💔)
FIRST QUESTION IN THE PSALMS – Psalm 2:1 – ‘Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain?’ (Has any generation in the history of mankind not asked this question?)
FIRST QUESTION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – Matthew 2:2 ‘where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?’ (The wise men from the east, the Magi, non-Israelites, are the first to acknowledge Jesus as king… they come from afar, not to check Him out, but to worship Him.)
FIRST QUESTION IN REVELATION – Revelation 5:2 ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ (Without the death, resurrection, and reigning Kingship of Jesus, the chaos of this world and all it’s broken relationships would have no end!)
In the Old Testament, we see these first questions reflect a broken relationship with God and man… with family relationships, with community and with nations. The Old Testament gives us story after story, particularly among God’s chosen people, the Israelites, of how mankind behaves when they are separated from God… which all began when Satan asks… ‘Did God really say?’
The Old Testament also gives us the evidence of God’s faithfulness in spite of Israel’s rebellion. (Lamentations 3:22-23) And while the relationship between God and His people ebbed and flowed, it did not go unnoticed by others. Israel’s history impacted many generations outside of Israel, enough for the Magi, foreigners, to come and worship the King.
We are invited to come and worship as well. We are invited to ask questions! The Gospels reveal Jesus – we can learn about who He is by the questions and answers in these accounts of His life on earth. The attitudes in the conversations are clear – we see those that are learning to draw nearer to Jesus to trust and obey Him and we see those that dismiss and mock Him.
Incredibly, we learn how He responds in such situations giving us the opportunity to learn and grow.
Why must I read these Gospels? Because unexpected situations come in my life and by reading these, I avoid unnecessary anxiety! (Philippians 4:7)