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A Fox Squirrel, 20 Questions and God’s 50 Questions

What could he be thinking?

These 3 topics have nothing in common.

Do they?

Let’s find out…

 

Fox Squirrel first. Look at the photo. This Fox Squirrel lives in a coulee of the Missouri River.

How many hairs comprise its fur? It has keen hearing, exceptional eyesight. It is diurnal, an animal active during the day. What physical attributes would it need to be nocturnal?

Ever wondered why it isn’t? Now, examine the tiny claws. How do they allow the squirrel to cling to the bark of trees? How did the squirrel, acquire such mastery over life in the tree tops? What makes insulation quality of its fur so effective in cold weather? It does not hibernate. It may spend a day or more in a Red Squirrel engineered drey…a squirrel’s nest made of twigs, leaves, and grass. Dreys remain in trees for years. Just twigs and leaves…how is that possible? One more, why the beautiful combination of gray tan and reddish-brown fur? (That makes 10.) Is it possible to come to believe God exists? (That’s 11.) You can begin by looking at the Fox Squirrel.

 

20 questions time. Ever play the game 20 Questions? We are playing it. Currently we are at question 12. In the actual game 20 Questions, one person chooses a person place or thing. The other person in the game has 20 questions to guess. In our game there is no guessing-just questions with one answer. 20 questions to direct you to God.

 

Job knew God before the questions. Job did not get 20 questions. He got 50. The questions were not asked by one of Job’s human companions. God asked them. What are questions from God like? (That’s 13.) Be ready to be rocked…this is the second question God asked Job: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” Job 38:4 (That makes 14.)

 

Here’s another, “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?” Job 38:12 (Number 15 for us.) Now for five in a row- 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20: “What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me if you know all this.” Job 38:18-20

 

God asked Job not 20 but 50 questions like these. You can read them in Job chapters 38-40. I want you to know to know what happened to Job when God was finished.

 

Job spoke these words in response to God’s 50 questions:

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?

I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once,

but I have no answer—twice,

but I will say no more.” Job 40:4-5

 

One day we will all stand to be questioned by God. Like Job we will instantly know we are unworthy. Like Job we will immediately know we have no answer. We will know we have nothing to say. Our heads will be on the ground anyway…we will fall before the holiness of God.

 

Only one word will stay the righteous, fearsome judgement of God. One word will satisfy. God has the right to condemn us. But, this word will be our pardon…for you and me, and all who speak this name:

Jesus.