In a
previous life, I did research in a bio-physics laser laboratory. We were
studying the particular way in which the human eye receives light and how it
converts that light to an electrical impulse, which the brain registers as an
image. I was assigned a specific part of the process and spent three years
exploring how this particular aspect worked. After the first year of research,
I was struggling to make sense of the data I was collecting. I couldn’t quite
wrap my head around what the data was saying; and I was at a loss to figure out
where to go next. I finally approached my supervisor (took me a while to ask
for help since I was an over-confident, self-assured twenty-something-ish who
knew everything already). After working through the research together, my
advisor gave me one comment that changed the whole course of my
investigation—he said, “You’re asking the wrong question.” I had been looking
at a year’s worth of research data and trying to get it to answer a question
that wasn’t even on the table. Once I figured out the right question, the
answers came.
“You’re
asking the wrong question.” I suspect you can think of many examples of where
this happens. A common plot device in novels and movies, a favorite way of
tackling sticky problems, solving puzzles, even deepening
relationships—changing the questions you are asking will often give an entirely
different outlook on an issue.
When I
talk with people about the Bible—and especially about the Old Testament—and I
hear them either complain or at least express little interest or understanding,
I usually want to say, “You’re asking the wrong question”!
We are
often told, and rightly so, that the Bible is the faithful rule for faith,
life, and practice; that is, that the Bible accurately and authoritatively
speaks to what we believe and how we live our lives. Unfortunately, we don’t
often read the Bible this way because we have been disappointed through the
years. After all, what does a story about Elisha’s traveling have to do with my
job, my family, my relationships, even, my worship of God? Or, the description
of how evil this particular king was? Or, this law about eating food, or
building a tabernacle? Seems pretty far fetched to ask, “How does this Bible
story from three thousand years ago tell me how to live my life today?”
If you
have found yourself thinking that, or even being tempted to think that, I’m
thinking “you are asking the wrong questions!” The Bible is indeed our
authoritative guide to all faith and life. It does indeed teach us what is
pleasing and honoring to our Lord. It communicates God’s will for His people.
But, it does so by teaching us about our salvation in Jesus Christ. Asking
questions that are all about “me” (what does this have to do with ME?) is
asking the wrong question! When we read the Bible, we need to be asking, “What
does this have to do with Jesus?”
See,
the Bible was written about Jesus—yes, the Gospels for sure, yes, the rest of
the New Testament, and, YES, the entire Bible is all about Jesus. OK, many of
us know that; but we need to READ the Bible that way. If the Bible is about
Jesus, then the question in our minds when we are reading is not about me, it’s
about Him. Now, it is true and made so by God Himself, that as we see Jesus
more and more in the Bible we will indeed be changed—our relationships, our
job, our families, our worship, all changed because of the power of the Spirit
working in and through the Word of God. But, we can miss it all by asking the
wrong question.
Read
the Bible, over and over again. And be sure to be asking the right question:
“Oh Lord, will You please show me Jesus Christ – MY Savior and Lord?”
As you prepare for worship this week, check out 2 Kings 4:8-17.
1. What do
you recall about Elisha? What about his background would indicate that he
should be the subject of this story?
2. Throughout
the story, why is the woman’s wealth mentioned?
3. Elisha is
referred to by the woman as “a holy man of God” (vs. 9). Besides obviously
referring to his being a prophet, what else might fit into the “holy man”
picture?
4. Why would
Elisha offer to speak to the king and/or the commander of the army on her
behalf?
5. How does
Elisha discover her real need? How would you describe her real need?
6. How does
the Shunammite’s salvation anticipate a greater salvation in Christ?
