Question 1

How does wonder describe our response to God’s activity in the world?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 7:3“But I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.”Exodus 34:10The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you.”God committed himself to creating wonders that would stand as a testimony to his participation in world events.Deuteronomy 6:22“The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people.”Joshua 3:5Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.”Faced with impossible circumstances and obstacles, God’s people were reminded that God could overcome these things by an unexpected display of his power. Being assured of God’s actions without being told how God will work is sure to create wonder when God’s power is made evident.Luke 1:65-66Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.The birth of John the Baptist to an elderly childless couple after months of his father being mute made the neighbors wonder, and their wonder provoked questions about God’s plans.Luke 5:17-26One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”Sometimes God is willing to do a visible wonder in order to demonstrate that he can also do an even greater unseen wonder. Making a paralyzed man walk is an awe-inspiring action, but forgiving his sins turns out to be an even greater act that only God is able to do.Luke 24:41Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”Jesus’ sudden appearance to the disciples the evening following the resurrection provoked them first to terror, then to wonder. Even his multiple assurances before his death that he would rise from the grave did not overcome their practical doubts until Jesus appeared to them in physical form. The greater wonder was Jesus’ resurrection from the dead; the lesser, his confirming appearance to many witnesses.Romans 1:18-23God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.When we deliberately turn away from God who is evident in all he has made, we are actually turning away from wonder. We are choosing to seek alternative but lesser explanations for anything and everything that points to God. We are fools in a foolish pursuit to a deadly end.

Question 2

When should I wonder as part of worship?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 22:22, 30I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. . . . Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.Psalm 65:8Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy.Psalm 77:14You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.Whether they go unrecognized or are deliberately ignored, God faithfully delivers his wonders throughout the world. Through those wonders, we recognize his presence through our worship.Psalm 111:4He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!Daniel 4:1-3King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.”To commoner and king alike, God displays his wonders and invites worship. We are humbled as we realize how easily we overlook God’s works and how patiently he opens our eyes and minds to recognize him.Acts 2:19-22“‘And I [God] will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.”Within just weeks of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Peter was powerfully preaching to those who were well aware of all that had transpired in Jesus’ ministry. Everything God did through Jesus was a confirmation that his death would bring forgiveness and his defeat of death would make eternal life a reality for all who placed their faith in him. The many wonders done by Jesus and his apostles would highlight and confirm the main wonder: our salvation.2 Corinthians 12:12When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.Hebrews 2:4God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.Those who first carried out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) fully expected God’s participation as they spread the gospel. God would confirm their message by creating effects that could not be explained in human terms. The power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) was evident in the lives and work of these messengers. There is no reason to believe that God has changed his approach. He still works wonders wherever the Good News of Jesus penetrates.

Question 3

Are there situations where our wonder is an inappropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 18:21-22“But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.”When our wonder expresses doubt in God’s ability or willingness to make his will and ways known, we are revealing a basic lack of trust in him and diminishing his character to the people around us.Job 23:15“No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me.”Psalm 16:9-11No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.Psalm 57:7My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!Psalm 71:6Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you!Psalm 119:129Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them!The psalm writers echoed Job’s fear of the Lord with their own discovery that responding in obedience and praise to God is truly a natural and unavoidable result of encountering God’s majestic character.Acts 2:25-31“King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’ Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.”The apostle Peter could point to David as an example of an Old Testament figure who grasped God’s ability and willingness to preserve him beyond this life, in this case because God would keep his promise to preserve the ultimate heir to David’s throne by raising him from the dead. Once God’s plan is understood, wonder gives way to rejoicing.Romans 2:24No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”Paul used the inconsistency and even hypocrisy of his own people to point out that non-Jews could declare their wonder about God because the people God had chosen to represent him were doing it so poorly. God doesn’t require our help to convince the world about him, but once we are aligned with him, we should take seriously his desire to work in and through us to influence others.

Wonder