Doing the right thing the wrong way
Questioning God: When Zachariah and Mary questioned God
Introduction
A. We are continuing our sermon series about doing the right thing the wrong way. It is so easy to excuse bad behavior by saying, “Well I did the right thing.” It is good to do the right thing, but it is more important that we do the right thing THE RIGHT WAY.
B. Doing the right thing the right way sometimes is determined our attitude at the time we do it. We have looked at the two men who did the right thing. They both believed in God. They both prayed but one prayed the wrong way and the other prayed the right way. It was not the words that were spoken that made one right and one wrong. It was their attitude.
C. Doing the right thing the right way sometimes is determined by our values. We looked at the two men who built houses; one did it the right way and the other the wrong way. One built on sand, worldly ideas and values. The other built on the ways of God.
D. Today we are going to talk about questioning God. If you were to take a tour of the Bible you would find it is filled with people questioning God, some do it the right way and some do it the wrong way. The Book of Job has over 330 times where God is questioned. The first book of the bible, Genesis, has 160 questions. The book of Psalms with its 150 chapters has 160 questions for God.
E. Religious people aren't used to questioning God. The Psalmist says: "The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings." Which, in real language means: "Being God means never having to say you're sorry!" We just kind of accept that. We're not used to questioning God, we're used to defending him! It never occurs to us that God can probably take care of himself!
F. Today we are going to look at two people who questioned God. One did it the right way and one did it the wrong way. Some believe that to question the Bible, God's direction, or even God Himself is tantamount to blasphemy or, on a smaller scale, a sign of disbelief. Some people think that it is always wrong to question God. They believe that you follow God and do whatever He says, without question. As a rule that is good, but there are times when it is correct to question God. But there is a right way to question God and there is a wrong way to question God. Today we shall look at both.
G. We will be reading in the Gospel of Luke.
Zacharias questions God Luke 1:18-35
A. Two people had angels appear to them and tell them something impossible was going to happen in their lives, Zacharias and Mary. They both were amazed at what they were told and both asked questions about how it was going to happen, but Zacharias was struck dumb for the way he asked and Mary was blessed! So there must be a ‘right’ way and a ‘wrong’ way to ask God questions! When Zacharias was told his wife was going to bear a son in her old age, he did not believe it was possible.
B. Isn’t it amazing that there are events in past history that we accept without question as having happened in a most marvelous way but should the same thing happen to us we would be inclined to doubt! Zacharias is an old man and his wife has been barren. No doubt they have wanted children. No doubt they have prayed and asked God to give them children, but it never happened.
C. Here is a man who believed in God. He was a priest of God. He was a man who studied and taught God’s word to the people. He was like all the Jews since Abraham, waiting for the coming of their Messiah. He had spent his whole life telling others that someday the Messiah would come. He told people that when the Messiah would come He would change the whole course of the world and mankind. Then when God comes and says that the Messiah is coming now and you are going to be a part of that happening, well, he questions, "How can this be? How can you use me? How can you answer my prayers? Can you really do all the things I have always said You could do, for I am old?
D. Angels are very powerful beings and it seems they can be short-tempered when they sense someone challenging them or challenging God. Apparently this angel picked up something in the way Zacharias asked the question. This one certainly reacted quickly.
E. How sad that a man who was supposed to be a spiritual leader could not believe when God made him a great promise. We need to careful not to allow doubt and cynicism to creep into our lives, as we get older. It will hinder God’s work in our lives.
Mary questions God
A. Now when the young girl, Mary, was told she was going to have a child even though she was a virgin, she just asked if she was supposed to do something to make this happen. She did not doubt that God was going to do what He said; she just was not sure what she was supposed to do. It is all right to be honest and ask God when we don’t understand something, but it is not all right to question whether God is really going to do what He says He is going to do. Is there something God is speaking to you about, if so, are you questioning His ability to do it or are you asking Him what He wants you to do? There is a difference!
The right way to question God
A. There is a story in the OT, in the book of Judges where a man questions God several times. God had told him to fight the enemies of Israel, which happened to have a very large army, numbering into the hundreds of thousands. Gideon was told to attack them with 300 men! Gideon asked God for a sign to confirm that he was really supposed to do this. He actually put out a ‘fleece’ and asked God to make it wet in the morning and the ground dry. Then when God did that, he asked if God would do it again, only this time, make the fleece wet and the ground dry, and God did that for Gideon. This is where we get the term, “putting a fleece before the Lord,’ when people are asking for a sign or confirmation.
B. Apparently God was not offended, or upset with Gideon. He was patient with him and helped him along the way to come to grips with what God was calling him to do. Gideon’s questions did not upset God.
C. I can think of many more examples of some very godly men and women who struggled with God's will just as much as Gideon; Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Job, doubting Thomas, Peter, etc. God was with them because He knew that when it came right down to it, these men and women desired to serve God. They just needed to think outside of the box. They needed to gain the right perspective. They needed a lot of encouragement.
D. I think it all goes back to motive. Why are we questioning God? If it is simply because we are trying to stall our obedience to the Lord, then we had best quit; if it is coming from a prideful heart that says, 'I know better than God,' then we are wrong to question; if we question God's authority, then that too is incorrect behavior on our part.
E. If, however, we question because we desperately want to know the answer, because we desperately want to know who our Lord truly is, because we need to see the light in the midst of our own confusion, then I believe it is appropriate.
The wrong way to question God
A. There are cases when questioning is a sign of an unchanged and unrepentant heart, however. Take the case of the questioning sessions instigated by the Pharisees in the New Testament. These sessions were a means to prove Jesus wrong and validate their own desires and philosophies. How arrogant they must have seemed to Jesus.
B. If your heart is humble before the Lord, not self-righteous, and if you acknowledge God as being the one in control with your best in mind, then don't be afraid to question, just make sure that when you ask, you are seeking for answers in the right place. You can't question God's will and expect him to honor it if you aren't willing to hear the answer. Recently I was talking to a gentleman who was asking me deep philosophical questions about God. Well I can tell you I am not the deep philosophical person, but what I sensed was that no matte what I said it would not be a good enough answer. He was not asking to learn. He was asking to teach me how smart he was to ask such deep questions. This is the kind of questioning that God will not be a part of. If you are asking to truly learn, because you are humble enough to admit that you really do not know then I believe God will honor that. If you are asking to cause trouble, to prove someone wrong, to show how smart you are or for any wrong motives, God is not going to answer.
C. I see this often, especially when people say, “I don’t believe the Bible. I have so many questions about it.” Or something like that. Even if you give them an answer, they won’t receive it.
D. It is possible to ask questions and not really want answers. This kind of questioning, God will not be a part of. If a person is asking to learn, and is humble enough to admit they don’t know the answer and are open to change when God does answer them, God will honor that.
E. Insincere questions, or questions from a hypocritical heart, are a different matter. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” Hebrews 11:6.
F. After King Saul had disobeyed God, his questions went unanswered 1 Samuel 28:6. “Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him.” God had already answered Saul, but Saul did not like the answer, so he kept asking, hoping to get a different answer, but the Lord did not answer him.
God invites us to ask Him questions James 1:5-8
A. There is nothing wrong with asking for wisdom. If we don't understand, we need to pray for wisdom as it says in James chapter 1, believing that God will give it to us. Once we know the answer, then we must put it into practice.
B. At issue is not whether we should question God, but that there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. It depends in what manner and for what reason we question Him. To question God is not in itself wrong. The prophet Habakkuk had questions for God concerning the timing and agency of the Lord’s plan. “How long Oh Lord?” Habakkuk 1:2. Rather than being rebuked for his questions, he is patiently answered, (2:2) and the prophet ends his book with a song of praise to the Lord.
C. Many questions are put to God in the Psalms
1. Psalm 10:1 “Why do You stand afar off? Where are You?”
2. Psalm 44:24 “Why do You hide Your face?”
3. Psalm 74:1 “Why have You cast us off?”
D. These are the cries of the persecuted, who are desperate for God’s intervention and salvation. Although God does not always answer our questions in the way we want, we can conclude from these passages that God welcomes a sincere question from an earnest heart.
E. It is entirely different to wonder why God allowed a certain event than it is to directly question God's goodness. Having doubts is different from questioning God's sovereignty and attacking His character. In short, an honest question is not a sin, but a bitter, untrusting, or rebellious heart is. God is not intimidated by questions. God invites us to enjoy close fellowship with Him. When we “question God,” it should be from a humble spirit and open mind. We can question God, but we should not expect an answer unless we are genuinely interested in His answer. God knows our hearts, and knows whether we are genuinely seeking Him to enlighten us. Our heart attitude is what determines whether we do right thing the right way or wrong way.
Summary
A. Questions cannot hurt you, but unresolved questions can. To work your way from uncertainty to certainty is no sin – if you’re question is honest and you’re willing to believe. So, questions that lead to answers and evidence can be good for us. But we must decide at that point to believe and receive the answer. We have to do something about our questions.
B. There have been times when I thought it was inappropriate to question God. I’m learning more and more that’s its better to question Him than just criticize Him, or assume something about God’s will that might not be entirely true.
C. Sometimes things don’t work out the way we think they will. That doesn’t change the fact that God is still working it out, and for those of us that love God & are called according to His purpose… it’s all good. It truly is. Really.
D. We may never fully understand or agree with God’s plan for our lives, but that’s okay. God’s process of doing things is way above our pay grade, and it’s not critical that we comprehend every passing moment.
E. What questions are you struggling with this morning? Maybe you question that God has really forgiven you. Or you question whether the Bible really is the Word of God. Maybe you have questions about how God created the world or even how He’ll end it. Or you’ve said to yourself, “I think I’m a Christian, but sometimes I’m not sure.” Do you still have questions about whether to make Jesus your Lord and Savior? For Christ-followers what is holding you back from a sold-out life? Are you questioning that God is going to come through for you? Are you struggling with knowing that God is leading you in the right direction? Jesus said: Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will.” It is okay to ask God questions He will answer if we keep our hearts open and humble. If we are really looking for an answer He will give it to you.
F. You can be a Christian and still have serious questions.
John the Baptist had introduced Jesus as the Messiah when he baptized him. He said, “Look, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” Later he is in prison for serving God and he has some questions. So, he sends one of his guys to Jesus: Matt 11:3-5 “Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen, the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” Wow, what an interesting question, after all that John had witnessed. Does Jesus get angry and say that followers of mine are to never question? Jesus answers: “Go back and report what you see.” Jesus even turned to the crowd and told them that John the Baptist was the greatest man who ever lived. These questions did not affect Jesus thoughts about him. He was not condemned for questioning. Faith can co-exist even with questions.
G. Even if you are questioning God because of all the junk in your life, don’t think for one moment that He’s abandoned you. He’s constant. Amidst the uncertainty of life, He is there. His love for you covers the largest landfill-sized pile of junk in your life.
