God asks us questions not to learn things from us, but instead to help us learn. In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve have rebelled against God's commands, and in their shame they hide from Him with their self-made clothing. God asks them, "What are you wearing?" to expose their sin but also to offer them a solution, clothing them Himself in spite of their failure. We also try and put up a false front to God and others, hiding our sin and shame. However, God has offered us a new identity, new "clothes" to put on through our forgiveness in Christ. Will we trade in our self-made "clothing" for His?

Jesus heals a paralyzed man after posing the question to him, "Do you wish to be well?". We may believe in Jesus and His ability to save, but we often disbelieve his ability to offer true healing in areas of our lives. Like the man who had to pick up his mat and begin to walk, we can step out in faith and believe in God's power to heal and transform!

God asks this question to Israel through the prophet Malachi, "If I am a Father, where is my honor?" Through this He is asking Israel where their hearts truly are in regards to their devotion to God, exposing that they are half-heartedly following Him. When we start to fall into this half-hearted devotion, serving God starts feels burdensome and we begin to try and cut corners. The key to regaining whole-hearted devotion is to see God's great mercy to us, which leads to our worship of Him!

Sent by God to speak to the Jews who had returned from exile to Jerusalem, God asks this question through the prophet Haggai. The people were supposed to be rebuilding His temple but instead were focused on their own lives. Their priorities were compromised, and as a result they were not accomplishing what God wanted them to. We have the same privilege, building God's kingdom as we reach the people in our lives for Christ. Though our focus shifts and our priorities become skewed, God calls us back through His Word and through other people to remind us of our true mission.

The Jews in Jerusalem have begun to rebuild the temple but become discouraged when they compare it to the former temple. God asks them a series of three questions through the prophet Haggai to point out that they are nostalgically focusing on the past, rather than focusing on what God is doing in the present. We fall into this as well, choosing to look at the past through rose colored glasses, discontent with what God has for us in the present. God calls us to persevere in the present, and look forward in faith to the future!