What Question Will You Ask God in Heaven? | Unlocking the powerful secret of His Sovereignty (Job 36-42)…
Have you ever thought about Heaven? What it’s like, how the Bible describes it, what the angels look like, the sounds of the continual praises being offered, the throne of God, or God Himself? The sad reality is that only an exclusive few will ever make it there. So, when you see God, are you one of those people who has a list of questions you need answers for? What Question Will You Ask God in Heaven?
- Why is there so much suffering in the world?
- How come Christians were tortured?
- Why wasn’t justice done on earth for wicked people?
- How is it fair that my child died in my arms when others willingly kill theirs in the womb?
- Why am I so hated for loving You?
The book of Job offers great insight into the conundrum of how we approach God and how God ends up approaching us.
It’s never too late to start….
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When God spoke…
The first and last chapters in Job are some of the most powerful chapters in the entire Bible, as they give us a bigger hole in the fence to peek through. We serve God and God alone, but the insight given in Job should not be taken lightly or dismissed.
God spoke to Job. Woah! Take a minute and consider that. Job’s life turns from joyous blessings to abject curses, he is begging God to hear his pleas and answer his questions. What is God’s response? He speaks to him!
Does God answer Job’s questions? Does He provide an answer for the ‘whys’?
He doesn’t.
Reality hits…
First, God lays out that Job’s words are unjustified and limited understanding. Similar to a parent instructing a child, calling out their limited understanding of the situation after enduring a hardship and failing to see the bigger picture. A child’s screams of “unfair!” and temper tantrums hold no candle in light of the bigger picture.
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Job 38:2-3
God establishes His place and Job’s place in these two verses. God will be doing the questioning, not Job.
God’s creation…
It can be said that the creation story is one of the most important historical accounts in the Bible for us to read and believe. So much can be learned from it. Just like Job, it is a chance to see a bigger picture of God; He:
- spoke things, plants, animals, and people into existence;
- created them with artistic flair and thought;
- scientifically blew the world’s scholars out of the water when He CREATED water; and
- enjoyed His creation and soaked it in.
After God establishes His and Job’s relationship, He initiates a turn of the conversation into a reiteration of specific aspects of creation.
The right questions…
God asks Job a series of questions that properly showcase His ultimate sovereignty.
- Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? (Job 38:4a)
- On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:6-7)
- Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band (Job 38:8-9)
- Have you commanded the morning since your days began…? (Job 38:12a)
- Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?
- Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass? (Job 38:25-27)
- Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? (Job 38:33)
- Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? (Job 38:34)
- Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? (Job 38:36)
- Who can number the clouds by wisdom? (Job 38:37a)
- Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? (Job 38:39-40)
- Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:41)
Correlations to creation…
Take note, these series of questions essentially follow the Creation story order. Journey back if you will, to the order of creation:
- Earth, space, time, light, and darkness.
- Atmosphere–the sky separating the waters on earth and waters above the sky.
- Dry land and vegetation.
- Sun, moon, and stars.
- Sea and flying creatures.
- Land animals and man.
- Rest.
As though the point was not made strong enough in Chapter 38, Chapter 39 goes into express detail about specific created animals. He questions Job about mountain goats, wild donkeys, wild oxen, ostriches, horses, and hawks. The specific details give insight into why some of these animals were created as they were. More importantly, we learn that God knows ALL things, even the minutest detail about random animals.
Job’s questions…
Multiple times, Job demanded a trial hearing so he could present his defense. He also listed out questions he would say to God, should a trial come to fruition.
I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me. Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked? Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees? Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man’s years, that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand? Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether. Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust? Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese? You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
Job 10:2-11
Now granted, in the prior chapter, Job does lay out the case for God’s sovereignty but he struggles with it. He makes the claim that God is so holy and wise that his pleas hold no candle to His glory. Yet, then he follows it up with these questions as though he got bolder the longer he talked.
God’s question…
God finished up his part of the dialogue with a question.
“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Job 40:2, ESV
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Job 40:2, KJV
What is Job’s response? Does he boldly reiterate his questions? Is he angry with God that the court case has begun and it’s his turn to present his side? Is he pleased that God answered those questions?
How would you respond? An honest answer here may present your view of God’s sovereignty, accurate or not.
Job’s answer…
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Job 40:4
Humility and reverence perfectly describe Job’s reply.
Our limited understanding formulates an arrogant view of ourselves and our position with respect to God. Share on XWhat Question Will You Ask God in Heaven? Now, we see this question in a different light. See, our limited understanding formulates an arrogant view of ourselves and our position with respect to God. Job was no different, until he met God and heard from Him. He was immediately aware of God’s sovereignty.
Isaiah’s answer…
Another example, is when Isaiah had a vision of God in Heaven. Did he ask God questions or demand an easy life?
The fate of Israel and the reality of their consequences was coming. Then he “saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1b-4)
How did Isaiah respond?
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; […] I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Isaiah 6:5
He was immediately aware of God’s sovereignty.
Job has another opportunity…
In Chapter 41, God continues his questioning and relation of specific creation events. So maybe now Job will ask God his questions? After all, he never received an answer to them.
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:2-6
He again has a response filled with humility and reverence.
What Question Will You Ask God in Heaven?
So again, what question will you ask God in Heaven?
Is your viewpoint on earth that you will even be capable of boldly demanding answers to questions of our Almighty Creator when you reach Heaven? If so, then I dare say that your view of His sovereignty is tainted. It doesn’t mean it can’t be corrected, but it needs to be corrected. Take the gift of the Bible to further develop in you a proper understanding of God.
Now, would it not be amazing to have a science lesson from God once we do get there? How fascinating to learn why a quail has a tuft of plummage on it’s head, a dog has a tail, or how a sunset is made.
How you view yourself in light of God’s sovereignty is a key point to focus on in your relationship with God. Do you treat God as though He owes you answers or are you living in anticipation to just be in His presence?
His holiness is so great, that we cannot even imagine it. Yet, the Bible shares this truth so our mindset can be set accordingly.
What question will you ask God in Heaven? It may be: “Why me, Lord, when I am so unworthy?”
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I think we often ponder the questions we might pose when we are in God’s presence, totally forgetting that God alone will be the focus of our thoughts.
Exactly! Not to say He may not also give us the option to ask things but I think we’ll be just completely overwhelmed with His glory! Becca
Great questions for pondering!
So glad to find you again. It’s been a while.
Hey, welcome back! Make sure to throw in a blog post or two in the linkup! Becca
Your post reminds us to approach God in humility and with respect and awe. Thank you!