Why Does God Ask Questions?

Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Why does God ask questions? He has been asking questions, since the beginning of time.

For example, in Genesis 3, God called to Adam “Where are you?” Did God not know? Of course He knew. So why did He ask? Again, in the same chapter, once Adam had told Him that they had hidden, because they were naked, He asked “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Once again, God knew what the serpent had said, and what Adam and Eve had done. There are many other examples in Scripture. If God knew the answers to the questions already – and, after all, He is omniscient – then the questions were not for His benefit. They were for the benefit of those who He asked. In this case, His questions were for the benefit of Adam and Eve. They were designed, so that they could confess their sins, and repent. Sin is disobedience to God’s Law. God’s Law, at that time, was not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Scripture does not tell us if Adam and Eve had repented – though, for other reasons, I suspect they did. Notice that God did not ask any questions of the serpent, who is Satan, because there was no opportunity for such a spirit being to repent. But for us, there is that opportunity for complete salvation, if we will repent and trust in Christ.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the salvation offered to all those, who will repent and put their trust in Jesus. Amen.

Notes:

Print