Wonder, Questions, and the Hebrew Bible
When we think about faith, we often imagine belief, obedience, and trust. But what if one of the most vital—and most overlooked—ingredients in a life of faith is curiosity?
Throughout Scripture, moments of divine encounter, transformation, and tradition are often sparked by questions. Rather than silence curiosity, God seems to welcome it—honor it, even. The Hebrew Bible, in particular, is rich with examples of faith and wonder walking hand-in-hand.
Here are just a few stories where curiosity doesn’t disrupt the faith journey—it drives it.
🔥 Moses and the Burning Bush: Curiosity That Changed History
In Exodus 3, Moses sees something strange: a bush that is on fire but not burning up. What does he do? He could have dismissed it, walked away, or chalked it up to desert heat. Instead, he says, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
That moment of wondering, that decision to lean in rather than turn away, becomes the turning point not just in Moses’ life, but in the story of an entire nation. It’s curiosity that draws Moses closer—and God meets him there, speaks his name, and sets him on a path that will deliver the Hebrew people from slavery.
🍞 Manna in the Wilderness: Leaning Into Mystery
Later in the wilderness, the people are hungry, afraid, and unsure how they’ll survive. God responds by providing food—but not in any recognizable form. What appears each morning is so unfamiliar, the people name it manna, which literally means, “What is it?”
And God doesn’t answer that question. God just keeps providing it.
The people don’t know exactly what they’re eating, but they eat it anyway. Their curiosity doesn’t lead to clarity, but to trust. They receive the mystery and choose to keep walking with it. This story reminds us that sometimes faith looks like continuing to receive what we don’t fully understand.
🗣️ “When Your Children Ask…”: Expecting Questions
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, we see an assumption baked into the design of tradition: that children will ask questions. God doesn’t just tolerate this—God plans for it. Over and over again, God instructs parents, “When your children ask you…”, as a way to invite ongoing dialogue about the meaning behind rituals and acts of remembrance.
Curiosity is treated not as a problem to solve but a signal of engagement. Faith, in this view, isn’t something handed down fully formed—it’s explored together, generation by generation, question by question.
🍷 Passover and the Four Questions: Centering the Child’s Voice
This embrace of curiosity culminates beautifully in the Jewish celebration of Passover. Each year, during the sacred meal known as the Seder, the youngest child at the table asks four questions—the Ma Nishtanah—beginning with: “Why is this night different from all other nights?”
From there, the child’s voice guides the evening. The rituals and symbols of the meal—bitter herbs, reclining posture, unleavened bread—are not explained unless the questions are asked. The curiosity of a child becomes the engine of remembering, storytelling, and sacred tradition.
It’s a stunning example of how deeply faith can be shaped not by certainty, but by inquiry.
Wonder That Leads Us to God
These stories don’t just tell us something about ancient traditions; they invite us into a posture of faith that embraces not knowing, that welcomes the wonder and the wandering. In each case, curiosity becomes the doorway to divine encounter.
In a world that often prizes quick answers and firm certainty, the Bible quietly offers another way: one where mystery is a teacher, questions are sacred, and the journey of faith is sparked not by conclusions—but by wonder.
Ask :
Where in your life or faith journey might God be inviting you to lean in with curiosity rather than rush toward certainty?
Maybe there’s a question you’ve been carrying—about Scripture, about your life, or about God—that you’ve been afraid to ask. What if that very question is the beginning of something holy?
