Any questions? [pause] You have no questions? You are so lucky; I have so many questions!
Dr. Gabi Barkay
Archaeology is a tough subject. You dig up some object in the dirt; it’s often broken and partly decomposed and you have to determine its function. Biblical Archaeology Review, a magazine that covers archaeology of the Biblical world, often has a picture of an object with multiple choice of what the object is. Taken completely out of the context it was found with no size information, it is often challenging. Debates often take place over various objects, structures, and even identifications of sites.
When I facilitate my small group, I encourage questions. If someone doesn’t know something, it is worth asking and being brought up to speed. I’m also not afraid of people questioning common doctrines or theology. If they are Biblically sound, they will hold up to our questions. Asking the question is the first step to finding the answer. God can handle our questions. I think God finds it harder when we stop asking and ignore him. When God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (and therefore named the nation), it indicated this (Genesis 32:24-30). Israel means something like “struggles with God”. To identify with the people of Israel is to identify with struggle. God can handle our struggles.In my archaeology class last semester, we dug into archaeology across Israel from prehistoric times to around the time of Joshua. Our professor, Dr. Barkay is an important archaeologist in Israel today with decades of experience. It’s joked that you could point at any rock in Jerusalem and he could tell you about it. I only audited the class, but for those who took it for credit, the only grade in the class was the beast of a final exam. I “comforted” my classmates that he wouldn’t ask them anything he didn’t know. Of course, he knows seemingly everything on the subject, so that wasn’t any comfort. In the middle of the deluge of information he was rattling off, he would sometimes pause to ask for questions, recognizing this was a lot of material. Questions are OK, even for him. He has plenty himself.
I’ve been asking some hard questions lately. (Or maybe God’s been asking me) What does it look like for me to follow him with all my heart, soul, and strength? What does total surrender look like? Can I even do that? Do I trust the Lord? Will I at least trust him more? Will I trust him even when it doesn’t make sense?
A life of faith isn’t afraid to ask questions. We just need to seek God’s answers and act accordingly in response.