Forgive the untimeliness of this post, particularly after declaring that "I'm back". Anyways, on with it...
I believe it is true that since the beginning of time God has been introducing Himself more and more to mankind. It is His desire to be known. Furthermore, for God to be known is for God to be worshiped because the one and only response to being given an accurate, even if partial, glimpse of God is praise, adoration, wonder, awe, humility, song. In a word: worship. This is His grand design. With that said, my goal here is to explore one way that process occurs in our lives.
God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to work in us through faith, His gift to us which allows us to be sure of things our nature would otherwise prevent us from believing. Faith must be tested and when it is it is strengthened or weakened, confirmed or denied.
I fell upon a thread in scripture recently I want to share with you. Here's the one-sentence summary: when circumstances don't make sense, yet we nonetheless base our questions out of faith in what we know to be true of God, He praises our faith, honors our question (often specifically answering or addressing it), and then teaches/reveals more of Himself to us, leaving us worshiping Him more and better.
Take Habakkuk for example. He knows that God is holy and pure, but he sees so much wickedness in His people. This doesn't seem to make sense. Then God tells him, in answer to his question, that He is going to use a more wicked nation to judge Israel's sin. This really doesn't make sense. In 1:13 Habakkuk states first, God, "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor." All true statements. He then asks, essentially, "but that seems to be exactly what your doing here! Why? How?" He says 'what I know to be true and what I'm observing don't seem to connect. But I know that I'm the one missing information. God, can You help me make sense of it all?' Chapter two contains God's answer, basically, 'they (the wicked nation coming to judge you) will have their punishment too. But that is not your concern, Habakkuk. Your right, they are not OK with me, but what matters to you, Habakkuk, as a man of faith, is to live in righteousness and thereby demonstrate your faithfulness' (Hab. 2:4). In the final chapter, chapter 3, Habakkuk is left literally singing a psalm in worshipful response to all he has learned.
Similarly, in the NT we have the examples of Mary (Jesus' mother) who, when told she was to conceive and have a son even though she was a virgin asked for clarification. She knew God's standard of purity and asked in good faith how these two conflicting pieces of information would come together under the consistency of God's standards. She was then given the additional information that the Holy Spirit would do a miracle in her, and that her child would be the Son of God. She too is left singing. the next section of scripture is known as 'the magnificat' or 'Mary's Song'.
There is also the story of the Roman centurion who had a sick slave and asked Jesus to come heal her. But he sends messengers to stop him on the way and says something to the effect of 'Jesus, nevermind. I'm not worthy to have you in my house. But I also know that you don't need to be here to heal my servant. Just say the word from wherever you are and she will be healed'. Jesus then publicly praised his faith and when the messengers returned, the girl was in full health. This man recognized the nature of Jesus and understood that he was nothing in comparison. He also recognized the authority of Jesus and understood that Jesus was fully able. In return for his faith, he was praised and his petition granted.
On the other hand, these may be compared to the stories of Zacharias. He was told by an angel while performing the worshipful duties of the preisthood that he and his wife were to have a son. But he let circumstances get in the way and doubted the message and asked 'how in the world is this possible?'. Instead of an answer, he received punishment of muteness until the birth of his son John the Baptist.
And also lawyer who came to Jesus and asked what needed to be done to "inherit eternal life?" Jesus actually responds with a question of his own, 'what does it say in the law?' The lawyer answers correctly by saying "love God and love people". But then asks "in order to justify himself, 'Who is my neighbor?" Jesus then tells the parable of the good Samaritan. The point of this story is not to answer the 'who is my neighbor' question, but to say "Go and do the same", go be a neighbor (Lk 10:25-37). Jesus does not answer his question but gives him instead what he needs to hear.
There are countless examples of Jesus doing just this with the pharisees, who never ask the right questions, but try to trap Jesus. Many times Jesus poses a question to them before answering theirs and many many times he humiliates them.
So don't ask, "in spite of what I believe about God, and in light of these circumstances, ___blah___" and spill out our questions and/or complaints. Instead, ask "in spite of these circumstances and in light of what I know about God, ___blah___" and ask our questions. The wrong questions seek comfort, situational change, and immediate answers and are never satisfied. The right questions seek God's wisdom and perspective, and our growth in Him, and are always honored.
Remember, we are told to be faithful with the limited amount of things we have and God will entrust us with more. The same can be said of our limited knowledge of Him. As we demonstrate faithfulness when tested, He will entrust us with more of Him to know and worship. We will be the better for it, and He accomplishes His grand design.
n.c.
