Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character. [Psalm 105.19]
Never did God (or Jesus) ask a question because He did not know the answer.
Beginning with the first question we have record of God asking Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" in Genesis 3.9 and all the way through the New Testament with Jesus asking the question of God on the cross, "Why have You forsaken me?" we can rightly divide that the questions asked were not for the information of the ask-er, but for the information of the ask-ed.
When God asked Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" it was for Adam and Eve to reflect what they already knew - that they had sinned - that they had violated mankind's relationship with God.
When Jesus asked, "Why have You forsaken me?" it was so God could reflect what He already knew - that He had planned - that Jesus' punishment and ultimate death on the cross restored mankind's relationship with God.
So, keeping that all in mind, let us remain consistent in God's inquisition for answers by seeing that Joseph's "testing" was not for God's information! God's testing of Joseph, like Job, was to reveal weaknesses that needed to be repented of and corrected. God knows our hearts better than even we do!
No uncertain pride issues were revealed in Joseph's success in totally alienating his family by telling (bragging?? about his dreams. Abraham did not help Joseph's pride situation any with his bestowing him with the famous coat of many colors (something that the other brothers did not get). Make no mistake about it, Joseph had to learn a few things about himself before he would be ready to be second in command in Egypt!
Bottom line: God is in need of no further information. He already knows all there is to know about any and every situation, person, place, or thing. It seems furthermore, that any time God asked a question, it was intended to cause the person asked to reflect on or recall what they already knew!
How cool is it that God's questions are really His way of speaking to us what we already know! Even when God asked Job where he was when God created the world... Job's obvious answer (I wasn't there) revealed exactly what God intended for Job to realize and remember! God is God and He has no equal.
Father, Your questions are amazing. Who besides You can ask questions that instead of needing answers, give the answers?
When God asked Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" it was for Adam and Eve to reflect what they already knew - that they had sinned - that they had violated mankind's relationship with God.
When Jesus asked, "Why have You forsaken me?" it was so God could reflect what He already knew - that He had planned - that Jesus' punishment and ultimate death on the cross restored mankind's relationship with God.
So, keeping that all in mind, let us remain consistent in God's inquisition for answers by seeing that Joseph's "testing" was not for God's information! God's testing of Joseph, like Job, was to reveal weaknesses that needed to be repented of and corrected. God knows our hearts better than even we do!
No uncertain pride issues were revealed in Joseph's success in totally alienating his family by telling (bragging?? about his dreams. Abraham did not help Joseph's pride situation any with his bestowing him with the famous coat of many colors (something that the other brothers did not get). Make no mistake about it, Joseph had to learn a few things about himself before he would be ready to be second in command in Egypt!
Bottom line: God is in need of no further information. He already knows all there is to know about any and every situation, person, place, or thing. It seems furthermore, that any time God asked a question, it was intended to cause the person asked to reflect on or recall what they already knew!
How cool is it that God's questions are really His way of speaking to us what we already know! Even when God asked Job where he was when God created the world... Job's obvious answer (I wasn't there) revealed exactly what God intended for Job to realize and remember! God is God and He has no equal.
Father, Your questions are amazing. Who besides You can ask questions that instead of needing answers, give the answers?
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