I began opening the Bible as a child searching for answers to specific questions. It was like being pelted with words, and not having any sense of the person speaking those words. I sometimes found answers, but more often I left feeling more disconnected and confused.
What I didn’t understand then (and keep learning) is that answers happen in relationship. I’m learning to recognize and respond to God’s voice while we do life together.
The answer to my questions isn’t data. It’s Himself.
So now when I’m reading the Bible, I keep an eye out for how questions deepen understanding. The questions God asked people, the ones people asked Him, and the questions people asked each other reveal what’s really important.
Yeshua (and the rabbis of His day) used this same approach. He often answered questions with more questions. His listeners understood that He was both deferring to them out of respect, and challenging them to develop a deeper understanding.
This is especially important when I’m trying to make sense of pain, since that’s when I question God the most. The thing about pain is, it’s true. But it always points to something truer. Bringing my questions and trading them for deeper, truer questions about who He is and who I am transforms my pain (and me) every time.
If I’m struggling and your answer is different than mine, that difference can drive a wedge between us. If you sit with me and my question first, you have my heart. And if you then bring a fresh question, I’m closer to the truth.
One of my favorite themes in the gospels is how Yeshua sees past the smoke-screens and addresses the question behind the question. In His culture, The wisest person wasn’t the one with the answers, but the one who asked the deepest, truest questions.
Together, we have the mind of our Messiah. Valuing questions over answers helps us cultivate humility, foster intimacy and embrace mystery so we can receive Him in each other. If we recovered that same curiosity Yeshua modeled, what would be possible for us?
Here are 5 questions from the Bible that challenge and energize me. God invites me back to them again and again. I use them to deepen our dialogue when I have no words. They are working on me, tempering me, building desire in me. What do these questions stir in you? (click on each question to see the reference and read the context)
Who is this coming up out of the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?
Where do you feed your flock at midday?
What do you want me to do for you?
Who told you that you were naked?
What’s your favorite question from the Bible? Share it with us in the comments below.