Why does God ask questions if He is omniscient?

Answer

God is omniscient—He knows everything. We also see in Scripture where God asks questions. In the Garden of Eden, God asks Adam where he is and what he had done «And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? », (Genesis 3:9,11) «And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? », (Genesis 3:9,11). In heaven, He asks Satan where he has been «And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. », (Job 1:7). In the wilderness, God asks Moses what he holds in his hand «And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. », (Exodus 4:2). In the crowd on the way to Jairus’s house, Jesus asks who touched Him «And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? », (Mark 5:30). Being omniscient, God already knew the answers to these questions. “He knows the secrets of the heart” «Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. », (Psalm 44:21). So why does He ask?

The questions God asks always serve a purpose. He does not ask to obtain information, since He already possesses all information; His questions serve a different purpose, and that pPurpose varies based on the context of the question and the needs of the one to whom the question is directed.

After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and hid themselves from God, God called out, “Where are you?” «And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? », (Genesis 3:9). Of course, God knew Adam’s physical location; that wasn’t the point of the question. The question was designed to draw Adam out of hiding. God could have approached His sinful creation in anger, with harsh words of condemnation and instant judgment, but He did not. Instead, God approached Adam with a question and showed His grace, gentleness, and desire for reconciliation.

When teaching a young student basic arithmetic, a teacher might ask, “What is 2 + 2?” The teacher does not ask this because she doesn’t know the answer but because she wants to focus the student’s thinking on the problem at hand. When God asked Adam, “Where are you?” the question’s purpose was, in part, to focus Adam on the problem he and his wife were tangled in.

Other questions of God in Scripture may have different purposes. In Job 38 — 41, God questions Job relentlessly about everything from Job’s absence when the foundations of the earth were set «Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. », (Job 38:4) to Job’s inability to fish for sea monsters «Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? Or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? », (Job 41:1). Here, it’s obvious God is using questions as an instructional tool to emphasize His power and sovereignty.

God’s repeated question to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry?” «Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? »,(Jonah 4:4,9) “And God said to Jonah, ‘Do you do well to be angry for the gourd?’ And he said, ‘I do well to be angry, even unto death.'” , (Jonah 4:4,9) was intended to provoke self-reflection in Jonah. God’s inquiry to Elijah, “What are you doing here?” “And he came to a cave, and stayed there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'”, (1 Kings 19:9) highlighted Elijah’s deviation from God’s intended path for him. God’s question in Isaiah’s presence, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I; send me.'” , (Isaiah 6:8) prompted the prophet to offer himself willingly.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He frequently posed questions. A skilled teacher employs strategic questions to aid the learning process, and Jesus was the ultimate Teacher. Jesus sometimes asked questions to create opportunities for learning: “Who do people say I am?” “And Jesus went out, and His disciples, into the towns of Cæsarea Philippi: and along the way, He asked His disciples, ‘Who do men say that I am?'” , (Mark 8:27). Or to direct His listeners’ focus to something significant: “What is written in the Law? . . . How do you read it?” “He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? How do you read it?'” , (Luke 10:26). Or to prompt self-examination: “Do you want to get well?” “When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been in that condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?'” , (John 5:6).

Even now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, “Wilt thou be made whole?”, (John 5:6). Or to prod deeper thinking: “What is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?” «And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same is become the head of the corner?», (Luke 20:17). Or to bring faith to light: “Who touched me?” «And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?», (Luke 8:45). Or to set up a big revelation: “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” «Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.», (John 20:15).

God is a Father who uses language to teach within the context of a relationship. He is a Teacher who uses questions to involve His students, force them to think, and point them to the truth. When He asks a question, it’s not because He doesn’t know the answer but because He wants us to know.