Questioning God

"And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4: 35)

God is Sovereign and "The Highest" (or "most high"). He answers to no one. All answer to him. It is the height of folly and sin to attempt to reverse this order, to make God answer to the creature.

That is clearly the message in the above words of King Nebuchednezzar. He once questioned God, attempting to put God on trial, and he smarted for it. Now, having learned his lesson, he makes the great confession about God's awful sovereignty.

"...God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters." (Job 33: 12,13)

It is the height of sin for man, God's creature, to speak to God as if he were less than God. Man reveals the state of his heart when he "sasses" God, and when he "talks back to" God, and when he questions God, and when he comes to him demanding he answer charges.

We cannot approach God as our equal, and it is great folly to attempt to make him our inferior. God does not answer to anyone and he is under no obligation to any creature to answer for what he does or for who he is. "He gives no account of any of his matters." If he "gives an account" of why he has done anything, it is not out of necessity, but is purely gracious.

"Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against ("talk back to") God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9: 18-21)

If one takes a bible concordance and looks up all the questions asked in the Bible, one discovers something quite interesting. God asks far more questions of man than man does of God. Yes, man has his many questions that he desires God to answer. All men are heard to say, at one time or another in their lives, "why me Lord?" Is this always proper for us? May we legitimately ask God about the "why" of things? Why is it that very few people think to ask this question - "why NOT me, Lord?"

It is ugly to see children "sass" and "talk back to" their parents. It is also ugly to see employees doing the same to their employers. Wrote Paul:

"Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them." (Titus 2: 9)

But, this is what men do in their relationship to God. Though they are his creatures, they being "clay" and he being the "potter," yet they "reply against him," sass or talk back to him, calling him into question and seeking to put him on trial and prosecute him for his perceived crimes against them. They say unto God their Creator, with disdain and disgust for him, "WHY HAVE YOU made me thus?"

Do I have a right to say to God - "You did wrong for not making me wiser, more good looking, taller, or with a better physical constitution"? Man has as much right to murmur and complain to God in these things as a mouse to complain for not being made a man.

Why is it that sinful men will ask God "why did you not make me superior" but will not ask "why did you not make me inferior"? Men are not thankful that God did not make them more inferior than they are, but are hateful to God for making them less than the highest of beings!

Friend, do you sass God? Are you asking him the right questions? Are you approaching him as a superior or as an inferior? Do you come to him begging or demanding?