I remember one professor, a theologian, who was a master at asking questions. His style was "Socratic". He drove you toward an answer - or to see the faults in our thinking - by asking questions. Jesus in the Gospels asks many probing, thought provoking questions.
In Genesis 18 there are two questions asked, both of which are often quoted by believers. We quote them because our answer to one is a resounding, faith filled, "NO" and to the other a resounding, faith filled "YES". Do you know them both without peeking at the passage? They are brief and we should memorize them for recall when we need to affirm our faith filled answer.
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" the angel of the Lord (some feel this may be the pre-incarnate Christ appearing to Abraham.) Sarah was laughing with disbelief at the promise of a natural born child to a husband and wife about to turn 100 and 90 years old respectively. To her doubting laugh comes this challenging question. Of course the angel of God, knowing and seeing far more than humans know or see, had no doubt that God could do what appeared to be "impossible". And we need to keep affirming a positive answer, especially when facing what appear to be overwhelming challenges or trials.
"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" asks Abraham, as he presumes on God's mercy. He hopes to see God spare Job and family from the coming judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. He is counting on God's wisdom and holiness. A positive response of faith to Abraham's question has become for many, a confident place in which to place the questions we cannot answer. Especially those questions which have to do with suffering and with judgment after death.
We do not know, nor can we understand all the ways of God or all the difficult questions of life, death and life after death. But with millions of believers we affirm: "Nothing is too hard for the Lord!" and "The Judge of all the earth will do right!"Amen? Amen!
In Genesis 18 there are two questions asked, both of which are often quoted by believers. We quote them because our answer to one is a resounding, faith filled, "NO" and to the other a resounding, faith filled "YES". Do you know them both without peeking at the passage? They are brief and we should memorize them for recall when we need to affirm our faith filled answer.
"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" the angel of the Lord (some feel this may be the pre-incarnate Christ appearing to Abraham.) Sarah was laughing with disbelief at the promise of a natural born child to a husband and wife about to turn 100 and 90 years old respectively. To her doubting laugh comes this challenging question. Of course the angel of God, knowing and seeing far more than humans know or see, had no doubt that God could do what appeared to be "impossible". And we need to keep affirming a positive answer, especially when facing what appear to be overwhelming challenges or trials.
"Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" asks Abraham, as he presumes on God's mercy. He hopes to see God spare Job and family from the coming judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. He is counting on God's wisdom and holiness. A positive response of faith to Abraham's question has become for many, a confident place in which to place the questions we cannot answer. Especially those questions which have to do with suffering and with judgment after death.
We do not know, nor can we understand all the ways of God or all the difficult questions of life, death and life after death. But with millions of believers we affirm: "Nothing is too hard for the Lord!" and "The Judge of all the earth will do right!"Amen? Amen!
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