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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN ASKING GOD A QUESTION
AND QUESTIONING GOD?
WHAT SHOULD WE CALL GOD? GOD, FATHER, DAD, LORD...
To ask God a question is to seek an answer. When ever we do not understand something we ask a question. In our hearts we have a true desire to know something that we do not know or understand. In Matthew 27:46, Jesus himself, when he was on the cross, ask God this question "& My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" He was not doubting God or Questioning Gods Judgment. He was in unconceivable pain and suffering. He had the weight of the sins of the world on his shoulders. He felt all alone and desperate. Still in all of this he never questioned God's decision. He never said that God was wrong to send him. He knew that he had to fulfill God's plan. In Luke 22:42, He even prayed in the garden saying, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Even though he asked the Question "Why have thou forsaken me?" he still never questioned God.
The story of Jonah tells of a situation where someone "Questioned God" and his judgment. You might want to read the story of Jonah beginning in Jonah 1:1, to find the whole story but here is the part of the scripture that is where I feel Jonah was "Questioning God". Jonah3:10 - 4:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. ¶But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. In this passage Jonah "Questioned God" and his decision to the point where he didn't even want to live any more!
I believe that the true difference in asking God a Question and "Questioning God" is one of the heart. What is in our heart when we talk with God or talk about him. Are we truly wanting to know or understand something or is it that we already know or understand it but just are not willing to accept it! Has God already shown us something to say or do and we refuse to do it. We say to God. No this isnt right or we say to him that he has to be wrong and question his judgment! Asking God a question in order to get an answer is very important. By doing the and listening to what he says our faith is strengthened but by refusing to accept his answer, questioning Him, and his judgment we quite often distance ourselves from him. So go ahead and ask God the questions but just make sure that you are ready to accept the answers once he gives them to you!
There are many different names for God used in the bible. Some of these are: Almighty (Revelation 1:8); King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15); I Am (Exodus 3:14); Jehovah (Psalms 83:18); Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15); Shepherd (Psalms 23:1). God is also called many other things in the Bible to numerous to list here. When Jesus was teaching his disciples how to pray, in Luke 11:2, he taught them this way, "And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." If you will notice here He uses the name Father. More important than the name is how he prays. Notice here that he is also praying reverently! He is saying "Thy will be done." Read the entire prayer and you will see that all through he continues to pray knowing the Gods will is the most important thing. So whether a person calls him God, Lord, Dad, or Father they should use the name reverently.
If you will think about it, the words that we use are just that. They are words. Every language has its own words used for God. Different people are raised to call God by different names. The name we use is not what is important. The most important thing is that we realize that there is only one true God. That we worship him and him only and that whatever name or words we use to address him or describe him be used out of Love, Adoration, and Respect!