When God Asks The Questions!

Recently, my husband and I were sharing with each other what God had been speaking to us. He shared with me that he was listening to a devotional and the minister referenced the scripture in Genesis 3: 4-13

⁴ “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. ⁵ “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

⁶ The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful, and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So, she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. ⁷ At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

⁸ When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So, they hid from the Lord God among the trees. ⁹ Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” ¹¹ “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

¹² The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” ¹³ Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

In Genesis, chapters 1 and 2 we read of God’s creation, including the creation of man. God placed man in the Garden of Eden and planted trees in the garden.  God brought all the animals, fish, and birds to man and gave man the authority to name ALL of them.

God warned man that he could freely eat of EVERY tree in the garden, EXCEPT the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for in the moment he ate of it, he would surely die. As a side note, God gave that warning to MAN, BEFORE He created woman!!

Before Genesis 3 and before woman ate of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, we read of God giving commands and warnings to the man. It is AFTER the eating of the forbidden fruit that God asks the man two question, “WHERE”, signifying POSITION and “WHO”, signifying whose VOICE are you listening to.

To the woman he asked “WHAT”, signifying ACTION.

When God warned the man that he would surely die if he ate of that forbidden fruit, He was not referring to physical death, He was referring to spiritual death! God was referring to the man being eternally separated from his direct connection and relationship with God!

Why would God ask the man those questions? God knew full well where the man was in the garden. After all, He was God! He also knew who was speaking to man, and He also knew what the woman had done!

I believe God asked the man and woman these questions because He wanted them to understand the implications of their actions! They immediately made excuses as to their actions. Therefore, God had to banish them from the garden and man was thus separated from that direction connection to God.

Also notice that once they ate of the forbidden fruit, they immediately recognized their nakedness or their lack of covering (spiritual implications here) and they sowed fig leaves together to cover their shame!

There is so much more I could say about this event, but the point I want to make is this; God will ask us questions when He wants to challenge us to remember the commandments, He gave to us in His word.

The worse thing we can do is make excuses for our actions! Our only response should be, “Lord, I hear you and I receive the instructions and direction you want me to follow!”

HOW ARE YOU ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS GOD IS ASKING YOU TODAY?

This is Leslie Eaddy Brooks, Think About It.