Do You Even Care?

Habakkuk’s 1st Complaint to God

Habakkuk 1:1-4 (NLT) 1 This is the message that the prophet Habakkuk received in a vision. 2 How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. 3 Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. 4 The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.

First Complaint God, how can you let such evil in society go unpunished? YOU DON’T SEEM TO CARE 2. YOU AREN’T DOING MUCH WHEN YOU COULD 3. WHAT YOU ARE DOING DOESN’T SEEM FAIR

A DEEPLY COMMITTED BELIEVER CAN EXPRESS SIMULTANEOUS QUESTIONS AND FAITH

God’s First Answer Habakkuk 1:5-11

Habakkuk 1:5-11 (NIV) "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, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. 7 They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like a vulture swooping to devour; 9 they all come bent on violence. Their hordes advance like a desert wind and gather prisoners like sand. 10 They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; they build earthen ramps and capture them. 11 Then they sweep past like the wind and go on guilty men, whose own strength is their god."

God’s First Answer I’m not letting evil go unpunished; I’m sending invaders to destroy the society. Could God raise up Communism, or Islam, or some other (as yet unforeseen) invader or disaster to destroy our society?

God doesn’t always give us the answers we want or expect God doesn’t always give us the answers we want or expect. We usually have it in our mind how we want God to answer our prayers. When He does it differently, how do you respond? What is Habakkuk’s response to the answer?

Habakkuk’s 2nd Complaint to God

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 (NIV) O LORD, are you not from everlasting Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 (NIV) O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish. 13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? 14 You have made men like fish in the sea, like sea creatures that have no ruler. 15 The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad. 16 Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, for by his net he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food. 17 Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy? 2:1 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.

Second Complaint Habakkuk accepted the answer, but he didn’t like it. How could God let such wicked conquerors destroy those more righteous than themselves? Babylonians were certainly more wicked than the Israelites. Or were they? Many righteous in Israel would also suffer.

God’s Second Answer Habakkuk 2:2-20

Habakkuk 2:2-4 (NIV) 2 Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. 4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

God’s Second Answer Depend on Me; the wicked (including the conquerors) will get what they deserve, and the righteous what they hope for.

God’s Second Answer The problem of delay: The wicked become arrogant. Eccl 8:11 (NIV) When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.

God’s Second Answer Woes to the wicked (2:6-20) both then and now. The proud person thinks they deserve better. They want more. They will do anything to get it. the Sensual person is searching for fulfillment through experiences - mainly sexual. The Idolater looks to everything else but God to make life work. These same characteristics certainly apply to the 20th century as Well.

Habakkuk 2:4b (NIV) But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. So what does faith look like?

Faith believes that God is too wise to make a mistake.

On the wall of a concentration camp, a prisoner had carved these words On the wall of a concentration camp, a prisoner had carved these words. I believe in the sun, even though it does not shine. I believe in love, even when it isn't shown. I believe in God, even when he doesn't speak.

Faith believes that God is too kind to be cruel Faith believes that God is too kind to be cruel. God is never malicious in his dealing with us. Whatever he does, He does for our good.

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28).    These verses are as important for what they do not say as they are for what they say. They do not say that everything that happens is good. They do not say that God causes evil. They do not say that everything will turn out okay for everyone.    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 permits.

Faith believes that God always knows best and does best in His time.

Faith believes that God is in control, and therefore we can rest easily.

George Buttrick has said, "The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax."

Faith believes that when we cannot trace the hand of God, we must trust the heart of God.

References When God Can’t Be Explained -- Rick Ezell Habakkuk: Through the Dark Valley with God – Robert C. Newman Habakkuk – Hampton Keathley IV The Just Shall Live By Faith -- Bob Deffinbaugh