Reading Plan: Genesis 25

Have you ever thought about how valuable questions are? I’m sure we all remember as a kid asking the famous questions of “Are we there yet?” and “Why?” Maybe you are now at a stage of life where you find yourself answering those same questions for the little ones in your life. Either way, the value of asking questions seems to get lost over time. We grow up and start believing all sorts of lies, like asking certain questions will make us look weak or look like a fool. I once read, “If you don’t have the answers you need, you should ask the questions that you have.” Asking questions keeps us in a learning mode rather than a judgment mode, but the most important part comes from asking yourself this ... WHO are you taking your questions to?

Life is hard and full of unexpected circumstances and situations that often leave us asking questions like, “Why is this happening?” Have you ever found yourself asking that question before? There is nothing wrong with asking this question. In fact, the Harvard Business Review will tell you this, “Asking questions holds the power to discovering new information, strengthening our trust, and is ultimately the wellspring of wonder, curiosity, and the capacity to delight.” Let’s think about these things in regards to what we read in Genesis chapter 25 when Rebekah is found asking the same question that we all wrestle with at times. In verse 22 we find Rebekah experiencing things with her pregnancy that she didn’t understand. She cries out, “Why is this happening to me?” The very next sentence tells us, “So she went to inquire of the Lord.” Rebekah sets such a clear and simple example for each of us when we are wondering why things are happening in unexpected ways. Her first and only action was to actively turn to the Lord for her answers. Can we honestly say that is our first reaction? If I am honest, I would say that the majority of the time when I am hurting or have tough questions, I first turn to my husband, family, or a close trusted friend. Then, I eventually take it to God in prayer. Rebekah never hesitates. She knows where her answers and the only source of hope is truly found.

If I trace back the times when I took my questions to God, I can clearly attest to the credibility of what the Harvard Business Review says about the power of our questions. God was absolutely faithful in answering me. He helped me discover new information about Him. He strengthened my trust in who He was and still is. And, His answers always resulted in a renewed spirit of wonder and curiosity and a deeper capacity to delight His marvelous ways.

There is so much power to be found in asking questions when we ask the right person. So, I guess the real question to ask ourselves today is not found in the why, but in the WHO? If we aren’t careful, we can allow our lack of understanding to pull us away from the One who can pull us through. If we are willing to follow Rebekah’s example and direct our inquiries to the Lord when we don’t understand, we will be sure to find the fullness of all that truly matters.