God is omnipresent (in all places), Omniscient (knows all things) and Omnipotent (all powerful). So when God asks us a question he’s not inquiring because he doesn’t know, he’s asking because he wants to make us aware of the condition of our hearts, minds and bring change to the situations we find ourselves in. We will look at three men in the bible God/Jesus asked a question to and why? What was it he was trying to convey to them by asking?
Where Are You?
Have you ever called your children and asked them “where are you” because they didn’t return home and you were worried about them? When God asked Adam this question in Genesis 3:9, he was speaking to his Conscious. What God was really asking Adam was “Are you supposed to be here?” “Why are you hiding?” “Who told you that you were naked? (Genesis 3:11)” Adam and Eve never had to hide in the garden before. Disobedience entered through sin and caused them to cover up and hide in shame. This is not where they were supposed to be. God wanted them to be aware of their spiritual condition by asking them about their physical location.
What Are You Doing Here?
In 1 Kings 19:13 God asked the prophet Elijah “What are you doing here?” Elijah was depressed and isolated in a cave and wanted to die. When God asked him this question, He was speaking about his emotional and physical condition. Elijah was physically exhausted therefore causing a reaction in his emotions. Before redirecting Elijah to go back where he came from and anoint two other prophets, God tells him to eat and drink because he had a long road ahead of him (1 Kings 19:7,8). God knew why he was there, but asking him the question made Elijah self reflect on why he was hiding in the cave. God asked him the question so he could restore his strength for his next assignment.
Do You Want To Be Made Well?
In John 5:6, Jesus asked a man who was lame for 38 years “Do you want to be made well?” When Jesus asked the man this question he was speaking to his brokenness. Jesus asked the man because he had conformed to a dysfunctional/crippling/dependent way of living. He was used to begging and living off of others. To be made well meant that he needed to change. Jesus was willing to make him whole, complete and lacking nothing (James 1:4). When Jesus changed his condition (waiting on others) it changed his location (he took up his mat and walked).
Maybe by asking you "Where are you?" like he did to Adam, God is really trying to convict your conscious by bringing awareness to those areas of our lives which we hide because we are afraid and ashamed. What if like Elijah, God asks "What are you doing here?" because he is really trying to restore and renew your strength and bring balance to those emotions that cause you to isolate and seek a "cave like" place to withdraw from everyone including God?
Perhaps, God is asking you "Do you want to be made well?" Do you want to be like the man who waited for someone else to help him get up; making excuses about his condition and conforming to a mediocre life of begging? God asks us these questions to give us opportunities to make better decisions that will bring us wholeness and healing.
In my latest YouTube video called “Do you love me?” watch here we discuss Peter and why God asked him this question. When Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me,” what was it he really wanted Peter to know or do?
Questions to ask yourself:
What is God asking you in this season?
What area of your life is he speaking over?
What is he requiring of you?
What needs to change?