Luke includes two exclusive accounts at the beginning of his Gospel. One is the birth of John the Baptist foretold (Luke 1:5-25) and the other is the birth of Jesus foretold (Luke 1:26-38). Both involve a highly doubtful prophecy given to an individual by the angel,Gabriel (Luke 1:11, 26). The first was announced to the priest, Zechariah, while he performed duties in the temple. He was told his wife would bear a son, John (Luke 1:13). The second was announced to Mary betrothed to Joseph (Luke 1:27) that she would bear a son, Jesus (Luke 1:31). Both ... were puzzled. Both asked a similar question. Zechariah asked, "How shall I know this?" (Luke 1:18) and Mary asked, "How will this be?" (Luke 1:34). One was struck dumb (Luke 1:20) and the other was given assurances (Luke 1:35-37). What was the difference? Clearly, Zechariah, was questioning God's reliability while Mary was questioning God's method. Two very different outcomes.
I recently saw a discussion on a controversial theological concept with the question, "If this is true, is God just?" You see, that's a questionable question ... but we ask it ... or ones like it ... all the time. The problem is the premise. Zechariah challenged God. "If it doesn't make sense to me, how can I trust it?" Mary simply asked for information, where she concludes, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). "Whatever You say, Lord." We dare to put God to the test ... the test of our personal judgment. "How can God do that to someone?" "If it doesn't meet my idea of just, it's not just." "God, You say the gospel is for everyone, but I don't see it." Over and over, we challenge God, requiring Him to meet our requirements. We ask "Why?" for all the wrong reasons.
Zechariah would offer a word of warning. Go ahead and ask for information, for clarification, for data ... but ... don't challenge God. He doesn't have to meet your standards of verification. You, on the other hand, had better submit to His. We tend to think He's a human, just like us, in many ways (Psa 50:21). But He doesn't answer to us. He's too wise to be mistaken and too good to be unkind. He's perfectly Sovereign and always does what's best. We can ask, but we shouldn't question. Do you see the difference?
4 comments:
So often I hear people doing exactly this, challenging YHWH. How could a perfectly just God do X, or how could a perfectly loving God do Y? It's obvious that the questioners are placing their guesses about how YHWH expresses His justice or love over all else. It's hard to do, because YHWH usually doesn't do things the way we'd prefer, but it is my regular prayer.
Striking that balance is a fine line that Zechariah learned the hard way, and we often must too.
As an aside on the is God just thing. I was discussing unlimited atonement versus limited, and I explained how God punishing Jesus for our sins and punishing non-believers for their sins would be unjust, and I was told I have a pagan view of justice.
I have often wondered about the different responses to Zacharias’ and Mary’s questions to the angel Gabriel (both following a very special birth announcement). (I also find it odd that Zacharias would say to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” Did he not remember the Lord providing a son as promised to Abraham and Sarah at their advanced ages?) Luke 1:20 clarifies that Zacharias “did not believe [the angel’s] words” from God, so Zacharias’ heart was clearly the issue, while we are told that Mary’s heart was fully yielded.
“We dare to put God to the test ... the test of our personal judgment.” We all know plenty who do this, as if we deceived and deceitful finite creatures are the standard for right and wrong against which we can judge Almighty God.
“We can ask, but we shouldn't question.” Excellent response to the aforementioned doubters--and a valuable thought for me to always keep in mind.
I have been meditating a bit on your statement, “We can ask, but we shouldn’t question.” (I can think of immediate personal applications, such as “Why did [such and such] happen?” vs. “Don’t you love me, Lord?”) I wondered if I had read about that concept somewhere else in the past, so I Googled “OK to ask but not to question” to see what I might find. Interestingly, AI Overview showed me this:
"OK to ask but not to question" refers to the difference between genuine inquiries for understanding and manipulative "just asking questions" (JAQing off) that are used to spread doubt or deny facts.
Genuine vs. Manipulative Questioning
Asking is often seen as a positive, open-minded pursuit of knowledge and understanding, fostering critical thinking and deeper connections.
Questioning can be a negative tactic to sow doubt, spread misinformation, or challenge reality. This is especially true when someone asks questions with a hidden agenda, rather than a genuine desire to learn.
Although not written specifically about understanding God or His Word, of course, I found it telling how many who call themselves Christians follow the worldly tactics described above and show their true hearts toward the Lord. May I trust God even in my most painful and perplexing moments.
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