Is something good because God commands it or does God command it because it is good?

[jswauto]

THE CLAY MAY ASK QUESTIONS, BUT THE CLAY IS NOT OMNISCIENT​

Let's make the distinction clear.

Can the creature think?​

Yes.

Can the creature ask God questions?​

Yes.

Can the creature investigate God's creation?​

Yes.

Can the creature wrestle with difficult moral questions?​

Yes.

Can the creature study theology and philosophy?​

Absolutely.
But:

Can finite knowledge automatically claim jurisdiction over infinite knowledge?​

No.

Can incomplete information claim superiority to complete information?​

No.

Can morally fallible beings simply assume their intuitions constitute the ultimate moral standard?​

No.
That is the point.

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THE ENTIRE JOB 38–41 ARGUMENT IN ONE SEQUENCE​

THE WHIRLWIND SEQUENCE​

• God creates.
• Man arrives within creation.
• God knows creation exhaustively.
• Man discovers creation progressively.
• God governs the whole.
• Man experiences a tiny portion.
• God knows all consequences.
• Man knows some consequences.
• God knows every heart.
• Man cannot completely know even another human heart.
• God possesses perfect holiness.
• Man possesses morally fallible judgment.
• Man nevertheless attempts to judge God.
• God asks: “Where were you?”
• God asks: “Declare, if thou hast understanding.”
• God asks: “Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?”
• Job finally answers: “I uttered that I understood not.”

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THE CHRISTIAN ANSWER TO THE CHARGE OF DIVINE DICTATORSHIP​

God is not merely powerful.​

God is good.

God is not merely sovereign.​

God is righteous.

God does not merely command.​

God loves.

God does not merely judge.​

God offers mercy.

God does not merely demand sacrifice.​

God sacrificed Himself in Christ.

God does not merely demand service.​

Christ came to serve.

God does not eliminate human agency.​

God calls people to choose.

God's Spirit does not produce slavery.​

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Christ does not enslave.​

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Sin enslaves.​

“Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

That turns the accusation completely around.