Based on what historians know, the earliest surviving Shang writing on oracle bone inscriptions was primarily used for divine divination and communication with the ancestors and gods. The Shang elites would crack the bones and turtle shells of animals to ask the gods questions about important decisions, rituals, sacrifices, military affairs, and other matters of daily life. Therefore, the most accurate answer is:
to ask the gods questions about life
The oracle bone inscriptions predominantly contain the questions posed to the divinities, along with the interpretations of the diviners who conducted the rituals. They provide valuable insights into religious beliefs and practices of the Shang civilization.