In the book of Job, Job suffers greatly, losing his livestock, children, and health. He is devoted to God, but terribly confused, and on top of that is being given bad advice from his friends. Finally Job cries out, demanding an answer from God!
God replies in a profound way: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” (Job 38:2-5). This amazing line of questioning goes on for two chapters. God goes on: “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place? Can you bring forth constellations in their season? Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!”
Then Job answered the Lord: “I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I will say no more.” The Lord’s replies, “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s…” (Job 40:1-5). God goes on questioning Job, and as the questions continue, the sense of the vastness of God builds—He’s too big and amazing to understand, and to question him and judge Him in this way is a very proud and ignorant thing to do.
God continues, “Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me” (Job 41:10-11). God describes the fire-breathing leviathan, and says if no one can come close to controlling or subduing or understanding that creature, how could they do the same to God?
In Job 42:1-6, Job responds: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
We read later in chapter 42 how God immensely blesses the latter part of Job’s life. This whole exchange is an eye-opening look into an intense conversation between a man with questions and God. The man thinks he can accuse God, and God ultimately reveals to the man how ridiculous that approach is. Job is truly humbled after God shares his perspective. Job submits to God’s ways and repents for speaking of things he did not understand. God restores Job and his bad-advice-giving friends and blesses Job beyond belief in every way.
This story is very important for us to keep in mind when we go to God with our questions. Yes, certainly go to Him with questions! It’s a wonderful, worthwhile thing to do. Lamentations 3 and Psalm 89 are great examples of how to do it with honesty and humility, because if there’s one thing we can learn from Job, it’s to have a humble approach. After all, who are we to judge God?