Yes, people in the Bible questioned God. As we have questions in today’s world, people had questions in the past.
In the book of Genesis, Scripture shares of Adam and Eve being given specific instructions by God. “But you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Genesis 2:17 NIV). The serpent encouraged Adam and Eve to question God’s will, and they ate the forbidden fruit. The punishment for eating from that tree was strict and harsh. God knew what they had done, and his judgment was given. Death.
Scripture shares how Sarah and Abraham had followed God faithfully, yet they had many trials in life. In their old age, God revealed that Sarah would bear a child. Abraham had trouble believing this event would occur.
“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’” (Genesis 17:17 NIV)
Instead of immediately giving thanks, Abraham questioned whether God would really do this.
Job was considered to be blameless and upright, according to the Bible. He feared God. Throughout a period, Job’s life was one tragedy and mishap after another. His animals and servants were killed. The sheep were burned, and the camels were destroyed. Job’s daughters and sons died when a desert wind caused a house to collapse.
Even though he was filled with heartache and disappointment, Job did not sin. Job did reach a point of despair and began to question his life purpose, including why he was born.
“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?” (Job 3:11 NIV)
Job continued to plead his case. He complained. He lamented. He cried for mercy.
“How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin. Why do you hide your face from me and consider me your enemy?” (Job 13:23-24 NIV)
God showed Job the full picture eventually. In the end, God restored the fortunes of Job and gave him even more.
How these people questioned God in Biblical times can assist us when we have questions for God. The story of Adam and Eve shows that there are consequences when questioning God blossoms into directly disobeying him. The story of Job shows that there is more going on in God’s story than we realize. The story of Abraham shows that God works in his timing, not ours. We also see in the story of Abraham that God did not smite or rebuke him for questioning his plans. Questioning may lead to sin if we’re not careful (like it did with Adam and Eve), but isn’t a sin itself.
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