The Questions God Asks

“How are you?” You’ve answered it ten times today, and I’d bet most of those answers were “busy” or “fine.” I hear it at my desk all year long. Someone gets close to the room they don’t want to show anybody, and they steer me somewhere else. We don’t exactly lie. We relocate. The first question God ever asked is only three words long, and He asked it to a man hiding in the trees. “Where are you?” He wasn’t opening a case. He was opening a door. In Episode 69, I look at three people and the three questions God asked them: Adam, hiding in the garden: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) Moses, stalling at the burning bush: “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2) A man who had been lying beside a pool for 38 years: “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:6) I think most of us dodge God’s questions in one of three ways. We hide, we argue, or we explain until the explanation becomes our name. I share what I see from my side of the desk as a licensed public accountant, then we look at what God does with a question when we stop dodging. What you’ll hear Why we answer a different question than the one we were asked The hider, the arguer, and the explainer, and how to figure out which one you are Why the offended party is the one doing the seeking How the same rod went from “a rod” to “God’s rod” What Jesus did with a man whose answer was “I have no one” Three questions to answer this week, and how to ask the people you love the way God asks you The line I keep coming back to God’s questions are doorways, not traps. Scripture in this episode Genesis 3:8-10, 21 | Exodus 4:1-2, 12, 20 | John 5:5-9 | Luke 19:10 | Revelation 3:20 (World English Bible) Your challenge this week Grab one sheet of paper and write three questions across the top: Where am I? What’s in my hand? What do I want? Answer all three honestly. Then ask one person you love a question that sounds like an invitation instead of an accusation. Ready to answer Him? If this episode stirred something in you, reach out at truthunveiledwithralph.com/decision. You can stay anonymous. I just want to pray with you. Next episode Proverbs 3, “First Things First.” What comes first in your life, and does your money show it? Keep seeking the truth, and let it set you free. God bless you, and I’ll see you next time. Ralph #ralphestepjr