Frequently Asked Questions II
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)
The Bible 101 Team has decided to return to a concept from last year: they scoured the internet and listened to people in order to find some frequently asked questions to believers of Yahweh. These questions cross the fields of religion, denomination and individual church communities to answer the most people as possible. We hope that you are satisfied with the questions found and the answers that were given. While these “Frequently Asked Questions” articles are a tonal shift for the content of Bible 101, it’s in the hopes that people who read can feel satisfied, and to facilitate reading once every so often. Therefore, sit back, relax and enjoy it all. Viewer discretion is advised.
Why did God say “Where are you?” to Adam and Eve after they sinned in the Garden if He knows everything?
That is a question that is asked by newcomers to the faith and experienced theologians. The reason why there is no concrete answer is because none of us can ever truly grasp why Yahweh does what He does. His thoughts are too big (Isaiah 55:8 - 9). Therefore, to answer the question, in the best way possible, is to give you context. We find ourselves in the book of Genesis. Man just sinned and disobeyed the Lord’s direct order to not eat from the tree. They hide behind the tree. Yahweh, being all powerful and all-knowing asks them this question. This can be in relation to them having sinned and therefore died, as death is the punishment of sin (Romans 6:23). Secondly, it can be because He wanted them to come forward with what they did, for confession is the first step in repentance (1 John 1:9). There are so many ways that this can go, and I pray that He will reveal it to us and to His servants so that we may get to know Him better.
How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?
This is a subject that has been covered in a plethora of books and texts. We will try to answer in the most concise answer possible. Yahweh is a loving God, as proven in John 15:19. However, He doesn’t love everybody. He hated Esau, “turning his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals” (Malachi 1:3). To go to Heaven is because you follow His commandments with love, as prescribed in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Luke 10:27. It’s about loving God with everything that you have and accepting that His son Yeshua came to save you. Those who do not do those things - who live in cruelty, sin and selfishness - are considered the wicked. The Lord does not take pleasure in the wicked falling if they can tun their lives around (Ezekiel 18:23), but He presented us the choice between life and death (Deuteronomy 30:19): we must choose what we want. It’s not because He wants to, but it’s the punishment for not accepting Him.
Why should I believe, when the worst hypocrites are in the church?
To answer that, one must acknowledge that there is a certain amount of truth to it. There are hypocrites in the church (Matthew 7:1 - 5). There are also hypocrites outside the church. In truth, the best thing to do is to follow the belief, not the believer. Seek the Kingdom and not the riches (Matthew 6:33). In fact, Yeshua says “So you must be careful to do everything [the pharisees] tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach” in Matthew 23:3. Your job, as a believer, is to read scripture diligently and apply it to your life; what others do is not your concern, but that of the Lord. And I understand, it will be tempting to call people out when they do wrong. However, you do not know when or if you will fall to that same sin, therefore, bide your tongue and pray for them in private. It’s the best advice that can be given to you.
And there ends our second edition of Bible 101’s Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any questions that you would like to ask, please send them to our questions page. We hope that you were able to learn from this shorter article type and that we will do this again soon.