Introduction
Our Father is personal and specific when He desires action. Throughout the Biblical accounts of His dealings with His children, there were clear directions. A willingness to act without God’s direction was punished just as severely as was disobedience to His commands. No matter how good the idea, He asks us, “Did you seek Me about that?”
The following passages from the Bible give insight into the heart of God. They are also instructive as to why God finds our use of the knowledge of good and evil punishable.
Read each reference and answer the questions. Your personal journal can be used.
Read Genesis 3:7-11
God asks, “Adam, what told you that you were naked and to cover yourself?”
Where did Adam and Eve get the idea?
Describe Adam and Eve’s thoughts and feelings after they disobeyed.
How did these thoughts and feelings lead to hiding and covering?
Read Genesis 11:1-8
God asks, “Children of men, who told you to build a tower?”
Where did the tower idea come from?
What were the “children of men” thinking?
Why was this not a good idea?
How did God’s response reveal His heart?
Read Exodus 2:11-15
God asks, “Moses, who told you to kill the Egyptian and hide his body in the sand?”
Where did Moses get the commission to defend the slaves?
What would God have preferred Moses to be thinking?
How does this account demonstrate the importance of waiting for God’s timing?
What did God work in Moses during his forty years in Midian?
Why was this preparation necessary?
Read Exodus 32:1-35
God asks, “Children of Israel in the desert, who told you to make yourselves a figure to worship?”
Who told the Israelites to design an idol to worship?
Describe Aaron’s possible motives.
What were the Israelites thinking?
What did God want the children of Israel to be thinking?
Read Leviticus 9:22 through 10:7
God asks, “Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, who told you to take your censer and put fire therein and offer it before the Lord?”
Where did the idea to make this offering come from?
What were Nadab and Abihu thinking?
What did God want them to be thinking?
How do we currently attempt to re-create displays of God’s power?
Read Numbers 14:39-45
God asks, “Repentant children of Israel, who told you to go to the top of the hill?”
Where did the idea to climb the mountain come from?
What were the Israelites thinking?
What would God have preferred they do?
Read Numbers 20:1-13
God asks, “Moses, who told you to hit the rock again?”
What permission did Moses have to alter God’s instructions?
Why was Moses mad?
Why was Moses’ idea to hit the rock twice a problem?
Consider how you, personally, have done your own thing to express your anger toward God.
Read Joshua 9:1-27
God asks, “Joshua, who told you to make peace with the ambassadors from Gibeon?”
Who gave Joshua the idea?
What was Joshua thinking?
Why was this not wise?
Why must we not assume circumstances are God’s way of guiding us toward His will?
What are more truthful ways of finding God’s will in a situation?
Read Judges 8:22-35
God asks, “Gideon, who told you to make a golden ephod?”
Who gave Gideon permission?
What was Gideon thinking?
What would God have preferred Gideon to be thinking?
What were the long-term effects of Gideon’s bad idea?
Read 1 Samuel 4:3 through 1 Samuel 7:1
God asks, “Israel, who told you to use the Ark of the Covenant to save yourself out of the hand of your enemies?”
Where did the idea come from?
What were the Israelites thinking?
What would God have preferred the Israelites to be thinking?
How do the trials of life tempt us to try to control God?
When we are in a place of need, what is the truthful way to approach God?
Read 1 Samuel 15 (entire chapter)
God asks, “Saul, who told you to save the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord?”
Where did Saul get this idea?
What was Saul thinking?
What would God have preferred Saul to be thinking?
How did Saul use his knowledge of good and evil to justify his disobedience?
Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17
God asks, “David, who told you to build me a temple?”
Where did David get permission?
What was David thinking?
God asks, “Nathan, why did you tell David to do what was in his heart?”
How would God have preferred Nathan to respond to David?
Read 1 Kings 13 (entire chapter)
God asks, “Man of God, who told you to go back to Judah?”
Who told the Man of God to return?
Who was the Man of God listening to at first?
Who did the Man of God end up listening to?
What should we conclude if there is a conflict between what others tell us and what God has told us?
Explain what a test from God could look like in your own life?
Why does God test His people?
Read 1 Chronicles 13:9-14
God asks, “Uzza, who told you to keep the ark from falling when the oxen stumbled?”
Who gave Uzza permission to touch the ark?
What was Uzza thinking?
What would God have preferred Uzza to be thinking?
Read 1 Chronicles 21 (entire chapter)
God asks, “David, who told you to number Israel?”
Who gave David permission?
What was David thinking?
How was it possible for Satan to tempt David?
What would God have preferred David to be thinking?
How does our knowledge of good and evil tempt us to count accomplishments?
Why is counting a great victory for Satan?
Read Job 42:7-10
God asks, “Eliphaz and your two friends, who told you to speak that which was not right to my servant Job?”
Who told these three to minister to Job?
What were Job’s friends thinking?
What would God have preferred them to be thinking?
Why is assuming we know how to counsel others without a revelation from God so dangerous?
Read John 8:44
What does Jesus mean when He states that the devil was a murderer from the beginning?
How is the devil’s nature all about lies?
How was everything the devil stated to Eve a lie?
What lie has the devil tried to get you to believe ?
If you failed the temptation to question God’s word, how will you handle Satan’s lies next time?
Read Matthew 19:13
Jesus asks, “Disciples, who told you to send the children away?”
Who gave the disciples permission?
What were the disciples thinking?
What would Jesus have preferred them to be thinking?
Why is it dangerous to assume we know what Jesus wants?
Read John 21:20-24
Jesus asks, “Peter, who told you to worry about my plan for John?” Who told Peter to be curious?
What was Peter thinking?
What did Jesus prefer Peter to be thinking?
Why is it a trap to compare callings?
How is this comparing related to our knowledge of good and evil?
Read Colossians 1:9-13
List the several, specific things Paul is praying for the Colossian Church.
Why do we need spiritual wisdom and understanding in regards to God’s will?
How is pleasing the Lord and bearing fruit related to the above?