If you have kids, you know they love to ask questions. I have come to realize that there are two kinds of questions. The first type is inquisitive and seeks information and education. The second type challenges my word and authority as the parent. It resists and doubts that I mean what I say and say what I mean. As a parent, I am learning to decipher between the two.
As you read Genesis chapter 3 you find Adam and Eve in the garden living their best life and enjoying the blessings given by God. One day Satan entered the garden in a form of a serpent and began to talk with Eve. Satan asked Eve, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’” It’s important to note that the first sin committed in the garden was not that of eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, but rather questioning God’s word.
When Satan brings a question to you it’s the latter of the two types of questions. He asks questions to challenge the word of God and its authority in your life. Satan’s questions are primarily distractions that lead to doubt, unbelief, and deception. These questions fill you full of care and take your mind off or away from what is true and places you in bondage.
When Satan realizes you have recognized or received truth, a divine reality, then he attacks. Mark 4 proves this.
When you begin to think on and meditate on his questioning of God’s word it depletes your affection, diverts your attention or perception, and changes your direction.
I want to ask you, what are the questions that Satan is asking you right now concerning what God has said to you or about you.
As believers we must come to a place of resolve of absolute trust and abandonment to God’s word. No hesitation or oscillation as they lead to devastation, but rather live in a place where your mind is renewed and made-up concerning God’s will and plan for every area of your life. Of course, this takes time and a focus on what God has said.
Satan’s questions are ultimately to bring you out of light and into darkness. Isaiah 60:2 says, “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory (manifested presence) will be seen upon you.” Darkness is the absence of truth and given identity, where Satan feeds you questions concerning everything God has said.
Darkness or questioning God’s word is where truth is exchanged for a lie. (Rom. 1:25)
It is where identity is confused or lost. (Rom. 1:21) And where God’s word is abandoned, seen as having no true value or promise of resolve. This is the climate of our culture. To challenge authority and question everything by drawing back to a place of perdition or destruction. (Heb. 10:39)
The good news though, is that when God asks a question it heightens truth and brings understanding and greater faith. God asked Adam, “Where are you?” not because He didn’t know where Adam was, but because Adam didn’t know where he was. When God asked Sarah after she laughed at the Angel of the Lord about having a child at an old age, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” it was to create in her an expectation and greater faith. Also, when Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” this question was to bring understanding and revelation of Jesus being the Christ, the son of the living God!
Psalms 119:130 says, “The entrance of Your word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” An understanding heart is a hearing heart, an established heart that is unmoved by the questions of the enemy.
God’s questions always lead to encounters where truth is revealed leading to absolute freedom. It solidifies identity and given inheritance in Christ, and lastly fulfilled promises give way to full joy and abundant peace.
The further you get from God’s word the more susceptible you become to the darkness or the questioning of the enemy. Darkness or the questions of the enemy are there to distract you and lead you to deception. I always say, the devil can’t defeat you, but he will distract you. Once distraction and deception set in then division happens and lastly destruction. Don’t allow the enemy to destroy anything in your life, instead submit yourself to God and resist the devil and he will run in terror!
Here is the final point, stay in the light, now more than ever! Don’t question God’s ability, simply believe, and watch what He can do! God doesn’t mind you asking questions, He’s smart and can handle them and always has the answers. The problem occurs when Satan gets you to ask his questions which breeds doubt and speculation about God’s ability to fulfill His word. God cannot lie; if He said it, He’ll do it; if He spoke it, He’ll bring it to pass, so trust Him. God’s got all that is needed set aside for you now in this time!