WHEN GOD DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
For
some time in our lives, the thought of God making no sense at all in a certain
situation is inevitable. We all have questions like “Why is this happening to
us?” “How could God let it happen?” “Of all people, why me?” And all we could
say is “I don’t really understand!”
When
we look deeper into the Bible, we will know that a prophet also share the same
thoughts that we have, he is Habakkuk.
The prophecy
that Habakkuk the prophet received.
Habakkuk’s
Complaint
2 How long, 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 wrongdoing?
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.
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 wrongdoing?
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.
Habakkuk 1:1-4
What did he saw?
Habakkuk saw
injustice and he didn’t understand why God tolerate such wrongdoings and
misfortunes. He didn’t want to keep his
mouth shut because he knows that there is a Great God up there who is able to
do the impossible but decides to allow strives and violence rule over His own
land.
What did he do?
Habakkuk
went to God and present his questions in mind. He was bold enough to bring the
complaint to God. He even said these words:
12 LORD, are you not from everlasting?
My God, my Holy One, you[a] will never die.
You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment;
you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
My God, my Holy One, you[a] will never die.
You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment;
you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
Habakkuk
1:12-13
Habakkuk was brave enough to challenge God. And the truth behind
this situation, God is not threatened with Habakkuk’s action. It is alright for us to go to God and
present the questions in our lives that we don’t understand because He is a
merciful God. He is an understanding God. His thoughts are greater than
ours. And even if Habakkuk questioned His everlasting presence, God knows His
place and He is at work. That is also
why Habakkuk knew that He needs to stay with God. He needs to have patience because God will do
mighty things in His time. God will do something in our lives that we cannot
even imagine.
1 I will stand at my
watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint
Habakkuk 2:1
There is a big difference between don’t question God and just accept
the situation as it is and questioning God but still trusting Him that He will
be in control over the situation.
There are 3 things that usually happen when we don’t understand a
situation in our lives:
1.
We rebel.
2.
We reject and are
embittered with God.
3.
We remain and
continue to trust Him.
It is important that we make the right choice for our lives. Because
in some ways, sooner or later, God will spoke just as He spoke to Habakkuk:
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 dwellings not their own.
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 dwellings not their own.
Habakkuk
1:5-6
We don’t understand because we expect answers that are according
to our ways and according to our thoughts.
But God answers us based on His thoughts and His ways.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I
want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to
you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set
free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law
of Moses.
40 Take care that what the
prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’[a]”
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’[a]”
Acts 13:38-41
Then what is the answer?
JESUS
IS THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF FORGIVENESS FOR ALL THE INJUSTICE, WICKEDNESS AND
VIOLENCE THAT OCCUR IN OUR LIVES.
WHEN
YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, REMAIN AND TRUST IN GOD. He is an infinite God. Even
though it seems like God doesn’t make any sense, He is AT WORK in our lives.
Even if we are just looking at a dot in His great plans, we must remain and
trust God through Jesus Christ our Lord because through Him, God will reveal
the promises that He has for us.
Notes
from the When God Doesn’t Make Sense Series: I don’t understand preaching last
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at Victoy Metro East
I was really encouraged by this blog. I loved that you showed how Habbakuk trusted God for help and answers.
ReplyDeleteI always feel as though trust in God requires action at time. Like Habbakuk, who saw the injustice I his people. He prophesied Gods word to them. He trusted God so enough to be used by him. I don't believe that if Hanbakuk would have done anything if he didn't trust Him.
Thanks, Gregory! :) We are blessed to hear that you were encouraged by this. :)
DeleteBtw, saw on your profile that you are attending NTS. Cool! I am attending APNTS here in the Philippines. :) -April