Growing Pains Habakkuk 1:2-11

God’s Character We Question God’s Character because of the evil around us “Why would a good God allow so much evil in this world?” Verse 3: “Why do you look idly at wrong?” Even Habakkuk wonders if God really cares.

God Uses Bad Events for His Good and Glory God is NOT affiliated with sin in any way! “What man intends for evil, God intends for Good” Genesis 50:20 Shown in the testimonies of Joseph, Israel, and China Verses 5-6 “I am doing something you would not believe…I am raising up the Chaldeans to destroy you.” The Chaldean (Babylonian) invasions lead to the Diaspora, leading to the spread of Christianity hundreds of years later.

We are Never Without Hope 2:4 “The Righteous shall live by faith.” Faith=Trust. “Faith” in Hebrew stems from the word “Firmness” We cannot trust the law, we must stand in firmness and trust God God’s impartial judgment gives Habakkuk hope! Israel’s suffering builds the foundation of Christ’s Kingdom

God wants to hear our complaints! Habakkuk 1:2 “How long shall I wait and you will not hear?” Habakkuk is honest and forceful but still knows God is in charge Painful prayers lead to a deeper relationship with God

Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree should not blossom,     nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail     and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold     and there be no herd in the stalls,  yet I will rejoice in the Lord;     I will take joy in the God of my salvation.  God, the Lord, is my strength;     he makes my feet like the deer's;     he makes me tread on my high places.”