When God Can’t Be Explained
Introduction: As we look back over the last several years, we see recent history dotted with some very tragic events. Middle Eastern terrorists have made a number of attacks against America in various ways - their crowning achievement, of course, being 9/11. The tsunami that wiped out vast portions of Southern Asia. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wreaked major devastation along our Gulf Coast. Lots of death, physical hurt and pain, property damage, and financial woes related to these and so many other tragedies that have befallen us.
Tragedy is often difficult to cope with, hard to understand, hard to explain, and it’s hard on our faith. Tragedy often causes people to lay the blame for these events on God. This will often cause these people to become bitter and cynical toward Him. Oftentimes, people cry out to God for some kind of explanation but get nothing but silence in return. They will ask for some kind of understanding and yet God seems to leave them baffled.
We must come to understand that life is, indeed, a mystery. Much of what happens in life is simply beyond us. We do not understand why some people have cancer; why some people are involved in tragic accidents; why some people suffer premature heart attacks; why some people live in constant pain, while others live relatively trouble free lives. And, you know, even if it were explained to us, we probably wouldn’t be satisfied with the answer. We long for sensibility. We seek explanation. We are desperate for reason.
There is a fundamental truth that is inherent throughout all of scripture: God never explains Himself. He rarely gives reasons. The events that unfold in our world seldom make sense. We, therefore, are confronted with and must learn to live by the very basic tenant of Christianity: "The righteous live by faith."
We speak a great deal about faith; but, do we really have a clear understanding of what faith is? When asked what faith is, some will immediately quote Hebrews 11:1 - "faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen." (11:1). Webster’s dictionary defines faith as "the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority." A true understanding of faith is based upon one’s understanding of God. If we do not believe God is almighty, all-powerful, all wise, all knowing, we cannot rest our faith completely in Him. Personal faith is based upon our understanding of God and our willingness to place our complete trust in Him.
Let’s consider what Habakkuk had to say about this idea of faith and the very basic tenant of Christianity - the righteous living by this faith.
Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:4, 3:17-19
What is it Habakkuk is trying to teach us here? He is laying out the framework for:
1. An Expression of Faith
A. Habakkuk penned what is perhaps the greatest expression of undaunted faith in the Scriptures.
1. Most prophets spoke to the people for God, but Habakkuk spoke to God for the people.
2. He lived in very difficult times - times that were hard on faith.
3. He saw the righteous suffering and the wicked prospering.
4. He asked God the same two questions we often ask: “Why?” and “How long?”
a. Why are these things happening?
b. How long will it be before they are made right?
B. God revealed to Habakkuk that He was about to use the Babylonians as an instrument of judgment on the Hebrew people.
1. Habakkuk could not understand nor explain why.
2. For a time, God intended to allow evil to win over righteousness - bad things would happen to good people.
3. God’s hand would not move; His face would not be seen.
4. Yet throughout this time of punishment, God reminded Habakkuk that correct living was expected He said: "The righteous will live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4).
C. Although Habakkuk did not understand God’s ways and timing, he did understand that he must continue to trust God’s wisdom, love, and reliability.
1. His great affirmation of faith is revealed in his words recorded in 3:17-19:
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!"
2. He affirmed that even if everything he relied on failed, if everything that brought stability to his life crumbled, he would still trust the Lord.
Application: Though the tsunamis rage, though the hurricanes batter our shores, though our finances fall apart, though everything around me crumbles, I will still continue to trust in the Lord. I will remain confident in His perfect wisdom in all things. Whatever you are facing today, do not allow it to cause your faith to waver but remain confident in God through it all.
As we contemplate and struggle with so many problems and difficulties both in our personal lives and all around us, we must come to grips with:
II. The Importance of Faith
A. As we consider the importance of faith in our lives, we should consider Corrie ten Boom.
1. She was well acquainted with tragedy and suffering.
2. She spent years locked in a German concentration camp.
3. She witnessed the torture and death of members of her own family.
4. In and through it all, she lived with a courageous faith.
5. Upon her release she said, "There is no pit so deep that God isn’t deeper still."
B. The words of Habakkuk ring forth this same message: even in the pits of tragedy, God is still there.
1. Sure the pain is still there - but so is God.
2. Sure the blackness still haunts us - but God is still there.
3. Faith is believing that in triumph or tragedy, God is still there.
Application: In the darkest trials of your life, God is still there. He is there for you not against you. Nowhere does He promise perfect peace and solitude here on this earth, but He always promises to be with us to the very end. We must come to the place where we completely trust Him no matter what the circumstances around us may be speaking.
As we come to understand the importance of faith in our lives, it will do us all good to have a better understanding of:
III. What Faith Believes
A. Faith believes that God is too wise to make a mistake.
1. God has a plan for our lives, and He is busy working it out in His perfect time.
a. It is not always easy to discern.
b. It is often above and beyond us.
2. God is high above us and sees all of our life in one glance - beginning to end.
3. We must trust in the ways of God always believing that He is too wise to make a mistake.
B. Faith believes that God is too kind to be cruel.
1. God is never malicious in his dealing with us - whatever He does, He does for our good.
2. Paul wrote, "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers" (Ro 8:28-29).
3. These verses do not say that everything that happens is goo - it isn’t; nor do they say that God causes everything that happens - he doesn’t; nor do they say that everything will turn out okay for everyone - it won’t.
4. What they do say is: God is at work in the world, especially in the lives of his children. His glorious purpose is to make us like his son, Jesus Christ. And to that good end, God can and does use all things - the good and the bad, that which He causes and that which He only permits. It assures us that no experience has to be a total waste. If we give it to God, He will take that experience and bring something good out of it.
C. Faith believes that God always knows best and does best in his time.
1. Imposing our timetable on God results in trouble.
2. We encounter times of trials simply because God is preparing to move us into a new phase of life.
3. God is working for our good according to His perfect timeframe.
D. Faith believes that God is in control so we can rest easily, if we so choose.
1. "The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax."
2. We choose whether we will let the inevitable suffering and misfortune of life harden or soften us.
3. We can choose to be hopeful or hopeless.
4. It all depends on how we look at it, and we determine in which direction we look.
E. Faith believes that when we cannot trace the hand of God, we must trust the heart of God.
1. Habakkuk declared: "Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!" (Hab 3:19).
2. The deer being referred to was a mountain climbing deer with sure and steady feet. Even on the most treacherous terrain, it never fell.
3. The Lord promises that He will keep us on our feet as we travel the treacherous paths of life. He may not get us out of the troubles, but he promises to get us through.
Conclusion: Maybe your life is so dark that you can’t see God’s face. The darkness of the night, the fierceness of the storm, the frailness of your faith causes you to wonder if God is there, you wonder if God even cares.
God is here for you. He will never leave you. Never. He cares too much for you. Even if the night is dark and the storm is raging, know that God is here. Even when you can’t see the hand of God, you can trust the heart of God.
Will you trust Him? Even if you don’t understand why, will you trust Him? Trust Him because you know that He knows why. Even if you wonder how long, will you trust Him? Trust Him because He knows the time and the length of suffering. Trust Him without explanation, logic and reasoning. Trust Him simply because He is God.
Disclaimer: Portions of this message or some ideas contained herein may have been gleaned from other sources. Please feel free to use this message as the Lord leads you for His glory.
