What role do questions play in understanding God's will in Ezra 5:9? Setting the Scene Ezra 5:9: “We questioned the elders and asked, ‘Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?’ ” Why the Officials’ Questions Matter • Questions expose underlying authority issues—who truly commands the work, Persia or the Lord? • They force the builders to state their dependence on God’s decree (cf. Ezra 1:1). • They bring the matter into the public record, paving the way for Darius to reaffirm Cyrus’s edict. • By asking, the officials unwittingly highlight God’s sovereignty: civil authorities must wrestle with the divine directive at the heart of the project. How Questions Guide Us to Discern God’s Will • Clarification: Asking “Who authorized you?” presses believers to anchor actions in God’s revealed word. • Accountability: Questions demand evidence of obedience, discouraging self-willed projects. • Testimony: A questioned believer explains God’s purposes, spreading truth beyond the original circle. • Confirmation: Proper inquiry can surface archival proofs (Ezra 6:2) that verify God’s prior instructions. Lessons for Today’s Believer • Welcome sincere questions; they refine motives and doctrines. • Answer with Scripture and historical facts, not mere opinion. • Expect God to use even skeptical inquiries to advance His plan (Romans 8:28). • Be ready; “Always be prepared to give a defense” (1 Peter 3:15). Related Scriptures on Godly Questioning • Acts 4:7: “By what power or what name did you do this?” • Proverbs 20:5: “The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” • Luke 2:46: “They found Him in the temple courts, … listening to them and asking questions.” • James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” Through thoughtful, Scripture-saturated questioning, God clarifies His will, confirms His authority, and amplifies His glory—just as He did in Ezra 5:9. |
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