When God is silent
Habakkuk 1:1-1:10
Introduction-
Turn with me to Habakkuk 1:1-1:10.
Habakkuk is located in the Old Testament between Nahum and Zephaniah.
Habakkuk is not easily found and not preached from often.
Habakkuk was a minor prophet and little is known about him.
We do know that he hung around with a big gun prophet name Jeremiah.
The prophet lived 600 years before Jesus Christ appeared in a time of the people of Judah struggling to comprehend the ways of God.
The book is unique because there is no prophecy in it.
There is just a dialogue between Habakkuk and God.
Truth be told, Habakkuk complains, God responds, Habakkuk complains again a second time, God answers, and ends with Habakkuk praying and changing his attitude towards the things that God was doing.
Sandwiched in there is a thought for each of us this morning.
Habakkuk 1:1-1:10
Anybody besides me sometimes have more questions than answers?
I think built in us is a desire to know, and the only way to know is to ask questions.
Illustration-
I love the commercial of a car dealership that shows a family looking for a car and there is a kid that is constantly asking the salesmen questions that have nothing to do with buying a car. What’s that- a banner for the cars. What’s that- steering wheel. What’s that- a floor mat. You see the salesmen is running out of patience, switches scenes and they are all standing again at a car with the keys in the salesmen hands. What’s that? The salesmen holds the keys up to his parents and says- “That is goodbye.”
The little boy that asks- “Why do I have to eat broccoli? Why do I have to go to school? Why is the sky blue?
The wife that is trying to getting her husband to come to church, why do I have to go to church? The wife exhausted says, because you are the pastor!
More Q’s that A’s sometimes.
This is not new.
The disciples sitting in a boat- God, don’t you care if we drown?
Jeremiah and Job, both struggling with depression, asking “why was I even born?”
This prophet opens up with frustration-
“How long God must I call for help and you will not listen or respond.”
Situation in his life was difficult. He looks around and he feels like he is getting a raw deal.
He is looking at this world and he is seeing injustice and pain.
He is asking God, why are you not doing anything about it?
Anybody ever felt that way? Anybody feel like that right now?
When we have questions, we think or assume that God must or should answer us immediately.
It does not take us long to realize that you cannot snap your fingers at God and God is going to answer you.
I know a lot of people who believe God should be answerable to them instead of realizing that we are answerable to God. (repeat)
So why is God silent at times?
I think sometimes it happens because we misunderstand what prayer is.
Prayer has to be God centered and not us centered.
God promises that He will hear our prayer, he doesn’t tell us he will answer as we like or when we like.
Our unbelief stops us from hearing from God.
If our prayer life is a ritual and you really don’t believe that He will answer. Then don’t be surprised when He doesn’t.
Another reason God is silent may be that we have known sin in our lives.
God is not deaf, and He is not hindered by circumstances.
We will never catch God by surprise.
Sometimes God is ready, willing, and waiting to answer your prayers, but He is saying wait! Not yet!
Isaiah 40:31-
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Waiting and patience- two words most of us hate!
We live in a microwave world- everything right now. No need to wait.
We have fast cars, airplanes, trains, and still people cannot get to their destination on time.
No matter what line I stand in, the other line moves faster. If I move, that line slows up.
I believe God answers every prayer with yes, no, and wait.
I believe when we ask God questions that we already know the answer too, but we don’t like the answer, I think He will not even acknowledge the question because we know the answer.
We hate the waiting room.
Because we hate to wait, even if waiting will result in a better response.
We will settle for less because we are not willing to wait for God’s best.
Naaman didn’t want to dip in the river seven times
Jonah didn’t want to go where God wanted him too.
This is not new- God has dealt with people like that many times before.
Here is what Habakkuk learned after he got all the complaining out of his system.
The good thing is that God doesn’t tell us not to ever ask God the hard questions.
God is not insecure; He can handle any question that you throw at Him.
What you and I need to learn is that God will do for us what is best for us, and answering your questions is optional on His part.
The answer God gave Habakkuk is in chapter 2:4 “The righteous will live by faith.”
What he is saying that people who truly trust and follow God have to trust Him enough to trust Him when they do not have all the answers and when life doesn’t make sense.
When someone does you wrong- “The righteous live by faith.”
When you have not been able to kick a habit and you sincerely desire God to take it- “the righteous live by faith.”
Habakkuk 3:19-
“The sovereign Lord is my strength. He will make me sure footed as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”
What happen? What changed?
His attitude,
His ability to learn to really trust God.
James- “if any man lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him, he must believe and not doubt.”
And he must understand that when you don’t get answers, that God still wants the best for you.
Let me wind down,
I don’t know about you, but tough times are tough for me to trust God, but that is why God says we have to be people of faith.
Recap this,
There are times God is silent because we have put up barriers to keep us from hearing the answers.
There are times God is silent because you are in the waiting room. It takes patience, but the end result will be that God has something better for you and you do not want to rush and settle for less than God’s best.
God’s time table is not or time table-
Some people are taught that asking God questions is sac-religious.
That is not what my Bible says, it is not wrong to ask, but as children of God, who are suppose to live by faith, God is not going to always answer when you think that He is suppose to .
It is with understanding that just because someone gets ahead by doing wrong, you will continue to do what is right, knowing that God will reward your obedience and you will not question God why He seems to bless the disobedient.
The last part I want you to see is this – God is always at work!
Don’t let the devil lie to you and beat you up that God don’t see what is going on.
Habakkuk says chapter 2:1- “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the rampart, I will look to see what he will say to me.”
Like a guard looking out of a watchtower that was expecting a response to his challenge.
God comes through and answers Habakkuk
Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain.
Woe to him who builds a city by bloodshed.
Woe to him who gives his neighbor drinks to get him drunk and take advantage of him.
“What value is an idol, since a man carved it?”
“Woe to him who says to wood comes alive, or to a lifeless stone to wake up, can it give you guidance?”
God sees what is going on! God doesn’t sleep and nothing gets past him. God is not lazy!
The truth is God is always at work, but it is according to His purpose not ours!
God is always at work because he uses ways that are not our methods. He does things we do not always understand.
God uses His timing and He is never late, but always right on time.
God told Habakkuk and he is telling us, there is a whole lot going on and some of it you cannot see, but I assure you I am at work!
I am using what seems like nothing, to make something!
God, I am trying and it just doesn’t seem to be working- keep putting your trust in Him.
He sees what is happening!
You just might be one more try away from a breakthrough. Just hold on!
Habakkuk has learned the lesson of faith. Hope you have also!
To trust God’s providence regardless of circumstances.
He declared that even if God should send suffering and loss that he was still going to rejoice in God his savior.
That is one of the strongest affirmations of faith is Scriptures.
“Though the olive crops fail, and the fields produce no food, though there is no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my savior.”
The issue is not God, the issue is us!
God is always at work- our task is to get on board of whatever God is doing!
That is where we will find joy! Amen.
Altar Call
