TEXT: Habakkuk 1:1-6
TITLE: Where are you God?
SERIES: Questions we ask God
TOPIC: God’s presence
OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, September 7th, 2008
PROP.: At times in life, I may be discouraged by what’s happening in my life and I may begin to question if God is really here and is He really active. This sermon is designed to give a boost of faith and trust in God to those who need it most!
INTRODUCTION: Good morning!
Hide and seek. Think back to when you played this game. I used to love this game. The anticipation of being found. The art of observation. In noting every single detail and if there was a blanket that was moved or a curtain that didn’t look quite right; you were there knowing that you would find some people hiding!
But did you ever grow up with someone who was really, really good at hiding? You couldn’t find them. And you got tired of looking for them. You were convinced that they had disappeared forever.
Have you ever felt that way with God? In your life, you have been looking for God for a long, long, long, long time! And quite frankly, you are tired of looking for God. In your life, you just want to know: GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?
Today we begin a sermon series on QUESTIONS WE ASK GOD! Is it wrong to ask God questions? To question God and His plans? No. And we’re going to see that God is definitely ok with our questions. He’s big enough to handle them.
You wish that God would just come out into the open and show up!
This morning, our text is the little book of the Bible written by Habakkuk. It’s only three chapters long, but quite possibly one of my favorite old testament books. Because in it, Habakkuk is honest with God. He’s real! He’s telling God exactly how he feels.
Habakkuk 1:1-6
While you’re turning there, I want to give you some background information.
Who is Habakkuk?
What a strange name!?! Habakkuk. Habakkuk means “embrace”. And embrace is what he did. Habakkuk had a deep love for God and for God’s people!
Habakkuk was a prophet. Prophet is a fancy word for God’s messenger. Habakkuk was to deliver a message on God’s behalf.
Habakkuk’s book is small! That’s why he’s one of the minor prophets.
The message Habakkuk was to deliver to his fellow countrymen was the message of “return to God!” You may or may not recall that God’s people had problems with their dedication. They were “on-again off-again” followers of God. And Habakkuk HAD enough! No one was responding the message! No one was changing. And so Habakkuk asks some tough questions in his book!
Let’s read
Habakkuk 1:1-6
1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.
Habakkuk’s Complaint
2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
Maybe you can relate to Habakkuk today. Habakkuk is frustrated. Frustrated with God, with life, with everything! And so, he tells God exactly how he’s doing.
T.S.: Habakkuk gives 3 complaints to God’s apparent silence
I. My prayers aren’t answered! (vs. 2a)
There is nothing more frustrating than not being heard. And Habakkuk is feeling as though his prayers are not being heard.
Habakkuk cries out in verse 2:
Vs. 2a “How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?”
The word here for “call for help” is a gut wrenching, painful cry. It is an ‘end of the rope’ call out to God cry! And some of you have done the same thing!
You are experiencing a pain that is so deep, and a hurt that is so real and you are needing help from the God who can do more than I can possibly imagine…yet, where is He? Where is God?
Well God answers prayer in 4 ways:
1. I’m sorry, did you say something?
There are things in our life that causes God to not hear our prayers. Isaiah 59:1,2 deals with this very thing!
Isaiah 59:1,2
“Behold the Lord’s hand is not so short that is cannot save; Neither is His ear so dull that I cannot hear. BUT, your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God!”
--GOD IS BIG ENOUGH TO ANSWER PRAYER!
--You see, Isaiah is saying, God is powerful enough to answer and respond to any request you may have before God.
--MY SIN CAUSES MY PRAYERS TO BE UNHEARD
But sometimes, our sin makes it such that God says, “I’m sorry, did you say something? Are you talking to me?” And I know what you’re thinking. Because you’re like me. You’re wondering:
--SO WILL GOD HEAR ANY OF MY PRAYERS?
If God doesn’t hear the prayers of sinners, is there any hope for me? God will NEVER hear any of my prayers! Let me tell you what this verse is talking about. It’s talking about unrepentant sin. Sin that you just don’t care about anymore. Do you have sin in your life that doesn’t bother you? Sin that you shrug your shoulders at, and say, “eh…”
IT COULD BE CAUSING GOD TO NOT HEAR YOUR PRAYERS!
God also answers prayer by saying…
2. No!
This is a frustrating answer at times.
“God, will you do this?” NO. “God will you get me out of this job?” NO. “God will you fix my money problems?” NO. “I have this on-going health problem, will you just…” NO. Why not? Because I’m using that for my glory! I have a purpose for that…I’m using that! That thing you hate…I love it! That’s what is keeping you humble and dependent on me! Will you take it away? And God says, “NO!”
The way we love God to answer prayers is…
3. Yes!
We love the “YES” answers, right? YES is the most comfortable answer for us. It proves God’s power to us. It relieves pain. It brings relief from whatever struggle we’ve been facing! It strengthens our faith! It affirms that we are fully in God’s will! It shows that you and God are on the same page! “Yes, I will answer that prayer for you, because it’s exactly what I want to happen!”
And then there’s the most painful and frustrating answer to prayer…God’s says:
4. Not Yet.
God says WAIT. “When will you do this?” NOT NOW. “Will you tell me when you will do this?” NOT NOW.
And this is exactly where Habakkuk is! Habakkuk says, “HOW LONG LORD?” And God says, wait and see! Have you been praying that God would do something? You’ve been praying for a long long long long time and still nothing. And you begin to wonder, does prayer even work? Does God even care? Will God show up and do something big? And the answer is: YES. But not yet. God is NEVER late, but he’s rarely early either.
Listen to me now: We don’t ONLY want what God wants. We want what God wants WHEN God wants it! His timing is perfect!
Habakkuk’s second complaint…
II. My advice is ignored! (vs. 2b)
Habakkuk says in verse two: “Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?”
Habakkuk is pointing out the problem to God. He’s like, I see the problem…it’s Violence God. Just get rid of the violence and life will be good. God, if you’d do what I tell you…WHY WON’T YOU DO WHAT I TELL YOU???
Have you ever been guilty of telling God what He needs to do? Man, I have! God, here’s the problem…and here’s the solution!
As someone who does counseling from time to time, doesn’t it just irk you to no end when you give advice and it’s not taken?
And I’m faced with this troubling time in my life and I’ve told God to take away the troubling time in my life; but He won’t listen to my advice.
NEWSFLASH…God doesn’t need your counsel! It’s not that God won’t listen to your advice, it’s just simply: God doesn’t need to listen to what YOU think is best. He KNOWS what is best!
--Man’s plans
Maybe you’ve tried to tell God what to do by just doing it yourself. Some idiot came up with the phrase “God helps those who help themselves.” What? I’d like to find whoever invented that slogan and just ring his neck.
We’ve swallowed the hook that tells us that if we want something bad enough, we just have to work at it harder. I’m here to tell you THAT’S NOT THE CASE! There are sometimes when God’s plans might just be the opposite of our plans!
That’s how it was with Habakkuk.
--Habakkuk’s plans
Habakkuk cries out VIOLENCE! He says, Get rid of the violence God. In just a bit, Habakkuk is going to realize that God is not only NOT going to get rid of the violence, he’s going to bring MORE VIOLENCE upon Judah!
God knows what he is doing…he doesn’t need your advice…or my advice…
God, my prayers aren’t answered; my advice is ignored; WHERE ARE YOU GOD?
Third complaint…
III. My circumstances are unbearable!
Habakkuk goes on to say:
3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Let’s be real clear about what is happening. Habakkuk’s fellow man, God’s chosen people - the people who were led out of slavery in Egypt to the promised land - have once again turned their back on God. They are ignoring God’s word…God’s laws and have exchanged them for what they think is best. Immorality and violence are everywhere!
What Habakkuk is saying is: “God life is hard! The situations I find myself in are discouraging. WHERE ARE YOU GOD?
--POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNBEARABLE
Notice how Habakkuk describes the Southern Kingdom (Judah) that he is now apart of.
--Injustice is rampant
--Destruction and violence
--strife and conflict are everywhere!
Israel, a once Godly nation; is now a nation unto themselves!
Remind you of any nation in particular?
You don’t have to look very long to see the comparisons between Judah and America. And I know several times, Godly people have prayed for Godly results. For change in America. For morality to return! And still nothing. God where are you?
--PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNBEARABLE
And let’s get more personal this morning. You are here and your own circumstances are unbearable!
You have health issues. You are in constant pain. Doctors can’t fix you. Medicine doesn’t ease the pain. And you’ve been praying about it for a long long long time. And still no change! You are at your wit’s end. What to do?
You have money problems. With rising costs. Gas is up. Food prices are up. Health care costs are astronomical! But your paycheck stays the same. Or in some cases, is missing! And you’re stressed about how to pay the bills? How to keep the house? And you’ve done without to make sacrifices but still it doesn’t seem to help. And you pray to God all the time about this…and nothing…WHERE ARE YOU GOD?
LISTEN TO ME THIS MORNING…When it’s as though my prayers are not answered…my advice to God is ignored…and my circumstances are unbearable…life in general can be challenging. And you can begin to question your beliefs in God. And “why should I come to church?” or “why should I read my bible?” It can be a very dark and cold place in life when God appears silent.
But I want to give you the good news! And the good news is this: God doesn’t remain silent.
In Habakkuk’s story…we get to the good stuff when we realize:
…And Then God speaks!
God shows Habakkuk how it REALLY is! It might seem like my prayers fall on deaf ears…my circumstances are ignored…but God will respond!
Maybe you’re thinking: “Well God hasn’t spoken to me!” Have you taken your complaints to Him? Or are you complaining to everyone else BUT God? Tell God exactly what you’re thinking…what you’re feeling…and then be prepared for what He will speak into your life!
So let’s get to the good stuff…
The Lord ’s Answer
5 "Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
6 I am raising up the Babylonians, [a] that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own.
IV. God’s response! (vs. 5 - 6)
Vs. 5 “Look among the nations and see. Wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days - that you would not believe if you were told!
CHALDEANS…they were a part of Babylon. A regional part of Babylon. Kind of like we would be considered YANKEES…And notice what God says about them in verse 6: “Behold, I am raising them up…” That raises an interesting question: Does God use heathen armies to bring His own people back to Him? Absolutely!
1. God’s response to Habakkuk is: WAIT AND SEE!
This was written about 620 BC.
Historians have verified this to be true! The Chaldeans were virtually unheard of in 620 BC…but in 614 BC, the Babylonians conquered and defeated the Assyrian capital. They defeated the bully on the block…amazing…where did these guys come from?
In 612, they had overthrown Ninevah…where Jonah had been preaching.
In 610, they conquered Heron…the birth place of Abraham
So not surprising, what God said was going to happen, happened.
Now I want to go back to verse 5 because this is the substance of today’s message!
2. God’s response to you and your situation…
Where are you God? The answer is: I am right here! I am right here doing what I’ve always been doing! Since the world began! I’m working, I’m active, I’m alive!
ILLUSTRATION: President of U.S.A. Would you say he’s a pretty hard workin’ guy? There is a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. Imagine the weight on his shoulders! He’s working right now. You ask: “How do you know? I bet he’s on vacation…he’s always on vacation…Have you seen him working? ” Well, no. But I know he’s working.
If I can have this kind of faith in the president of the united states…why can’t I have the same kind of faith in God?
Well..
Two things that will help you…
1. I will never see it unless I wait for it.
See what? See what God is doing!
What do I forfeit if I don’t wait on God’s timing, God’s provision, God’s plans?
What we forfeit: The Miracle! If we don’t wait, we will miss the miracle!
Don’t miss the miracle! Wait for it. Wait for it!
We will miss the testimony!
Oh to be able to testify of the greatness of God and His provision. To be able to tell stories to your kids, grandkids, friends about how God was faithful to respond! And you’ll miss both of those things if you don’t wait!
2. I will never wait unless I have faith!
Habakkuk needed a boost of faith. And I would speak that into your life this morning as well. God can be trusted and is working mightily. He is worthy of your highest confidence! Be filled with faith, God is good! And you’re going to have a story to tell when you get to the end of this period of pain in your life.
You will have a story to tell! Don’t miss out! This situation has been sovereignly appointed to you by God! And I gotta tell ya, I don’t always understand God’s plans…God’s methods…
Deuteronomy 29 “The secret things belong to God!”
And aren’t you glad that we serve a God who’s ways are beyond our understanding? Who even if He told us what He’s planning, we wouldn’t believe it!!!
Where is God when I need Him? God promises to be RIGHT HERE WITH US! In the midst of the fire!
CONCLUSION: Is God Done with your life?
Is he done moving and acting and revealing Himself to you? Absolutely not! My encouragement to you is the same as that of Habakkuk…WAIT AND SEE WHAT GOD WILL DO!
