“When God Seems Far Away”
(Habakkuk chapter 1)
I have a message this morning that I think every person here can identify with. And as I prepared this message, I really wrestled with what to say and how to say because I don’t want anything to be taken wrong or misunderstood. I just want you to listen this morning with an open heart as I share God’s Word. In the past few weeks there has been some things take place that has really shaken up a lot of people. Let me ask you this, “Do you ever have questions for God?” I mean, do you ever look around at what’s going on in your life or in the world around you and ask, “God, why is this happening or how could this happen or better yet why are you allowing it to happen or as Erma Brombeck put it, if life is a bowl of cherries what am I doing in the pits?”
I think if we were all honest with ourselves we would have to say that at some point in our walk with the Lord all of us have had questions like this. This morning I want you to turn to the Minor Prophets to the little book of Habakkuk. I ‘ll give you a minute or two to find that. Actually if you go to Matthew and back up 5 books, you’ll find it there. We don’t hear many messages from the Minor Prophets today, but they are great little books. We’re going to be looking at Habakkuk chapter one this morning in a message I’ve entitled, “When God Seems Far Away.” You’ll soon see that the prophet Habakkuk plays a little question and answer with the Lord Almighty (Read verses 1-4/Pray).
Now, as I read those first 4 verses, did you think, “Man, that sounds like today?” So did I! Well, if you’ve never read much in the Minor Prophets, one of the first things you’ve got to understand is this- their message is anything but minor! They deal with some pretty heavy stuff. And Habakkuk is one of those prophets who didn’t just proclaim a message, he asked the tough questions. And he asked them to God. Now, in verses 1-4 here, we see that Habakkuk has a complaint. And really if you think about it, this complaint could very well relate to today. Now, Habakkuk was complaining about Judah at the time. But today he could have been complaining about Jonesboro or Memphis or New York or any city in the world for that matter.
It seems like every time we pick up the newspaper or tune in to the news we see more violence. Someone got robbed, someone got shot or stabbed. Somebody was raped. It just seems to surround us. And you can’t really go to any part of the city to escape it because it’s everywhere. It’s even invading the family. Have you noticed how many kids are killing their parents or Grandparents and parents killing their kids? Folks, we have serious issues in our world today. And one thing we can be certain of is this, the world’s not getting better, it’s getting worse! And one thing seems to stick out in all of this – people just plain can’t get along with each other! And yet we think we’re such an advanced society because we have all of this incredible technology.
But what we’ve done is we’ve forgotten the basics of life. We need to learn to get along with people. That doesn’t mean that we don’t speak up against a sinful lifestyle or not ever say anything because we’re afraid to offend someone. There’s a time and a place to do that. But we do have to live on this planet with other human beings. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” And the beatitudes tell us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” We aren’t responsible for somebody else’s actions, but we are for our own.
The world is filled with all kinds of perversity. If you can think of it, it’s probably been done. Our whole sense of right and wrong has been perverted. There used to be a time in our country, and it wasn’t so long ago, when righteousness was the majority and the wicked were a minority. But it’s true of us now as it was in Habakkuk’s day, that the wicked far outnumber the righteous. But remember this; this is not something that just came out of nowhere. There has been violence and injustice throughout the history of mankind. Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, this world has mostly been under the control of the devil. That right there explains why there’s evil in the world. So, we don’t really have to question the cause or the source of evil, it’s the devil! Habakkuk knows where it comes from he just wants to know why.
In chapter one, the prophet asks two questions. The first one is this,
I. Why Does God Seem So Unconcerned?
Folks, have you ever felt that way, I mean honestly? Habakkuk is God’s man at this time in the history of his nation and evidently he’s been faithful in proclaiming the message God has given him. But he has seen his country deteriorate because of poor leadership and trouble seems to be on every side. This is the burden of Habakkuk. And when we are burdened folks, there’s no two ways about it, the thing to do is pray. And that’s just what Habakkuk is doing here. He is crying out from the depths of his heart and asks the question, “Why?” Well, first of all, let me say this, it is okay to ask God why? And why not? I ask my father why about stuff all the time. So why shouldn’t I be able to ask my heavenly Father about things I want an answer to. Jesus told us from the Sermon on the Mount that we are to ask, seek and knock. There’s nothing wrong with asking God why about things as long as we keep in mind who He is and who we are. The first thing I want us to see under this heading is,
1. The Prophet’s Question (verses 2-3)
Now you can see from the wording that Habakkuk is using in these verses that these were not only difficult times, they were very dangerous times. And Habakkuk is praying that God would do something about all these evil things that are going on. But it seems that God doesn’t hear him. Habakkuk is expressing the attitude that a lot of righteous people have today. He’s outraged at all the violence and injustice in his society. He wants something done about it. Evidently Habakkuk has been praying for a long time about this because verse 2 says, “How long will I cry and you not hear?” I want you to see something in these verses that really brings them to life. You see the word “cry” twice in verse 2. The first time we see the word cry it simply means, “to call for help.” But the second time we see it, it’s an entirely different word. You see, the second word for cry in verse 2 means, “to scream, to cry out with a loud voice, to cry with a disturbed heart.”
As this prophet of God cried out about the evil and wickedness that surrounded him, he became more and more burdened and he began to wonder, “Why does God seem so unconcerned about all of this.” The second thing I want us to see about these verses is,
2. The Basic Cause of the Problem (verse 4)
We all know that every problem is caused by something. And in this case what was happening in the land of Judah, some of the problem was caused by leaders who wouldn’t obey the law. And to top off things, those who were wealthy were exploiting the poor and when they got caught they got out of it by bribing the officials. The laws were either ignored or they were twisted to make the bad guy look good. And the thing that’s so stunning is, nobody cared! You see, the way of the world can be summed up with just two words – Money talks! That’s why verse 4 says, “Therefore the law is powerless and justice never goes forth.” If the courts are crooked, the law can’t work and justice can’t prevail.
And not only that, people go looking for loopholes in the law. If you’ll remember, not too long ago we had an amendment passed in many of the states concerning gay marriages. Well, I guarantee you this; there are people who support gay marriage right now that are looking for loopholes so that they can have what they want. As a matter of fact, we’ve already seen federal judges that have declared this amendment unconstitutional. It’s the same thing with abortion and anything else. Let me ask you this, “Are there two sets of laws?” There’s not supposed to be as far as I know!
And in our society today, we see injustices all the time. I can think of a couple of big time celebrities in the last ten years or so that have gotten off the hook even when it seemed the evidence was overwhelming. And we read everyday about wives and children that are abused every way imaginable. We turn on the TV and where we used to see entertainment we see Desperate Housewives and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. And we think to ourselves, “What’s this world coming to?” And we say the same thing Habakkuk said, “God, how long are you going to let this go on?” We see brutal dictators that rise to power and in the process kill millions of people and we wonder why God doesn’t bring them down. We see severe famine with people starving to death and we see natural disasters that take away everything we own and we have loved ones that die even after we’ve prayed until it seems we can’t pray anymore and we say, “God, why did you let this happen?”
You see, Habakkuk asked the tough questions, “How long?” and “why?” Well, how does God respond to something like that? The 3rd thing I want us to see is,
3. God’s Reply (Look at verses 5-11/Read).
In these verses God tells Habakkuk in kind of an indirect way, that He is working even though Habakkuk couldn’t see it. As a matter of fact, God tells him that He is working in such an amazing, incredible way that he would be shocked. To paraphrase these verses, God tells Habakkuk, “I’m working in such a way that you wouldn’t believe Me if I told you! I’m going to send the Chaldeans to strike My own people.” Now the Chaldeans were godless people and in verses 5-11 you see descriptions of them that paint a pretty discouraging picture in Habakkuk’s mind. I mean, here’s a people that’s one purpose in life is to conquer and enslave other people.
The Chaldeans were ruthless and bitter. They were a dreaded people. Everybody was afraid of them and they weren’t afraid of anybody or anything. It goes on to describe them as their horses having the speed of leopards and them being as ferocious as wolves, and their troops swooped down on their prey like vultures. Their army swept across the desert like the wind and gathered and deported prisoners the way a man digs sand and ships it off to a foreign land. They had no respect for authority and when they came to city that was well fortified they just laughed at it like it was nothing and overran it. They served the god of power, not the all-powerful God. The Chaldeans seemed unstoppable. Now, why in the world would God allow that to happen to His people? Hang on!
There’s one thing Habakkuk has learned already. God is not indifferent to sin. Habakkuk knows about the sins of the Chaldeans, but what about the sin of the people of Judah? Does God look at sin two different ways? NO! He doesn’t! To God sin is sin. He doesn’t categorize sin like we do. We look at something as being a little sin or a big sin. But God doesn’t do that. You see, to God sin is sin! You see God loves us. That’s a fact from His Word. But as His children, if we get out of line God does what every parent should – He disciplines us! Now, let me ask you this, “Does anybody in here like to be disciplined?” I don’t! You see, when Habakkuk asked God “How long” and “why”, God gave him an answer that he didn’t expect.
Habakkuk was expecting God to send revival to His people, that He would judge the evil and corrupt leadership, that He would establish righteousness in the land, and the nation would escape punishment for their waywardness. But here’s something Habakkuk had evidently forgotten. God had given His people warning after warning after warning but they wouldn’t listen. Prophet after prophet had boldly declared the Word only to be rejected. God had allowed natural disasters like drought and plagues and all kinds of military defeats, but the people wouldn’t listen. Turn for a second over to II Chron. 36. Look at verses 14 and following (Read). Instead of repenting, the people ended up with hardened hearts and to top it all off, they started looking to the pagan gods all around them. And that was the straw that broke the camel’s back and now God has reacted the way He has. So the question has been asked, “Why does God seem so unconcerned?” The answer? He is concerned and He is at work but He doesn’t always work the way we hope or expect Him to. That brings us to the second question chapter 1 deals with,
II. “How could God be so Inconsistent?” (Verses 12-17)
As far as Habakkuk was concerned, God’s first answer wasn’t really an answer at all. In fact now Habakkuk kind of confused. He’s thinking , “How in the world could a holy God use a wicked nation to chastise His own people?” Well, let’s look at that for a minute,
1. The Holiness of God (Read verses 12-13).
What Habakkuk is doing here is he’s focusing in on the character of God and holiness is one of those characteristics. He’s doing the same thing Jonah did when Jonah disagreed with God. He’s reminding God of who He is, like God has forgotten how holy He is. You see, Jonah knew that God was merciful and wouldn’t destroy Nineveh if they repented and they did repent which didn’t make Jonah too happy because he wanted God to destroy the Ninevites because they were a wicked people just like the Chaldeans were. But why would God use a wicked, idolatrous nation to chastise His own people? I mean, Habakkuk agreed that the people deserved discipline but couldn’t God find some other way to do it?
Now, we know that this isn’t the end of the Jewish nation because verse 12 says, “We shall not die.” But they are going to experience some painful trials.
Why would God discipline His own people to this extent? I shared with you a minute ago that in the past God used all kinds of things to get the people’s attention like wars and natural disasters and the hard preaching of the prophets. But they wouldn’t listen. Well, when people don’t listen after warning is given time after time, sometimes you have to do what is necessary to get their attention. That’s what God is doing here. It’s not that He doesn’t love them, He does! But God’s own people had wandered so far away from Him He had to get their attention by using the most wicked people around them to do it. You see, the Chaldeans were pagan idolators, they didn’t know the true living God. But the Jews knew better! They claimed to know God but were breaking all the laws they believed. Folks, sin are awful in the life of an unbeliever but sin is even worse in the life of a believer because we know better. God is holy and will not tolerate sin! It doesn’t matter if it’s the unbeliever’s sin or the believer’s sin. The next point Habakkuk brings up to God is,
2. The Helplessness of the People (Read verses 14-15).
What Habakkuk is saying here is, “God, we could not survive such an attack. We don’t stand a chance.” You see, to the Chaldeans life didn’t mean anything and neither did people. They were just like catching fish on a hook or catching fish or shrimp and other stuff in a net. Another way of saying what Habakkuk is trying to get across is something we might say today – This is like shooting fish in a barrel. And just like today, there were false prophets then that went around saying, “Aw, that won’t ever happen here.” Well, in the book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah went around and preached for 40 years it would happen and he was basically ignored. Folks, why don’t we listen to warnings? The last thing I want us to look at about Habakkuk’s second question is,
3. The Pride of the Enemy (Read verses 16-17).
Habakkuk brings up the point before God that the Chaldeans lived and worshiped power. They basically worshiped the pagan gods of power and violence. They were puffed up with arrogance and self-confidence. They believed in all kinds of gods and goddesses. They belived Anu was the god of the sky. They believed Nebo was the god of wisdom. They believed Nergal was the sun god. Sorcery was a big part of their religion so they had Ea, the god of magic. Everything they stood for opposed what the Jews believed. How could God allow this to happen to His own people? Chapter 2 begins with Habakkuk standing and waiting for God’s reply. But that’s a whole different message.
Habakkuk asked the questions, “Why does God seem so unconcerned?” and “How could God be so inconsistent?” And those questions can be summed up with the questions, “How long” and “Why?” in chapter 1. Habakkuk got an answer but it wasn’t one he liked or wanted to hear. And I’ve found that out in my life as a believer. I’ve had questions that I wanted answers to but didn’t seem to get. Sometimes we do get answers and sometimes it seems we don’t have a clue or even a glimpse of why something has happened like the passing of a sick loved one that we have prayed for. We reading in the Bible about tragedies that happened and we ask questions like, “Why did God allow His faithful servant Job to lose everything he had including all of his children?” Or why did God allow Joseph, a young man of great integrity, to be falsely accused and put in prison for years?”
Why does God allow things to happen in our lives? Why did God allow a hurricane to devastate the Gulf coast? Why do innocent people suffer? Why do evil people seem to always come out on top?” I’m going to give you an answer that many preachers wouldn’t give you – I don’t know! I don’t know and I don’t think you do either! Those are questions we’ve been trying to answer since time began. But here are a few possibilities that I have seen in trying to find an answer to the question, “Why does God allow things to happen in our lives?”
1. To wake us up
I’m sure that when the Jewish people found out that the Chaldeans were coming, it was a real wake up call. And sometimes things have to happen in our lives, tragic things, to wake us up, to get our attention about whatever it is we need to deal with, whether it be our health or our attitude or forgiveness or our spiritual condition. Look at Jer. 18:7-10) Sometimes we need something to shake us to wake us. Here’s the second possibility,
2. To bring out our true character
There are times when difficulties are allowed in our lives that are allowed because that’s the only thing that will bring out our real selves. Some people are real introverts that hate being in the limelight. But sometimes they may need to be out front for whatever reason and it takes something difficult in our lives to bring out the character that needs to be brought out, as hard as that is for some. The third possibility,
3. To let the world see our reaction
This is especially true for Christians. I believe that God puts us in places we need to be by Divine appointment and we don’t even realize it. I believe that He puts people in our path every day and whether we know it or not people watch us and they see how we react to difficulties whether it be at work or at school or in our marriages or if it be with sickness and disease. And the way we react speaks volumes to unbelievers, believe me. Now, I’m not saying that in those difficulties we always react in a good way all the time. We all certainly have our moments of weakness. But if we could just realize that people are watching us all the time from our kids to our neighbors to complete strangers. And when we react in a way that gives glory to God even in the midst of great tragedy, it gives the world hope that God really is real and can do the same in them. And the last possibility is,
4. To teach us
This is perhaps one of the hardest for us to accept because we all know that at times many things are learned the hard way. And we learn during difficult times how to cope with things. And because we have learned this lesson we can sometimes and somehow benefit others who are going through or will be going through what we have. Experience isn’t always easy but it is a good teacher. Let me give you a quick example: Maybe you have had someone die that you had unresolved issues with and that’s happened to many of us I’m sure. That ought to show us that we should always do all we can to avoid any unforgiveness or bitterness because we may not see them again. To teach somebody something that helps them get through difficulty is a great thing.
Now, I know there are probably many more possibilities as to why God lets things happen in our life but keep those in mind when difficulty comes.
Why does God let things happen to us? I don’t know but I do believe Him and trust Him with my life and His Word says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
I also know that when Joseph went through what he did in the end he told his brothers that had sold him into captivity, “But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”
(Every head bowed please)
Let me ask you something this morning, “Does God seem far away from you?”
He could seem far away because He is far away from you. Maybe you don’t know Him in a personal way this morning. Well, I’ve got good news for you, this morning you can! If you will very humbly admit you’re a sinner and come to Him in repentance, turning from the way you live away from Him and turn to Him by faith and invite His Son Jesus to come into your life and accept what He did on the cross for you, you can know Him in a personal way and you’ll be changed my friend.
God may seem far away because you’ve allowed sin in your life that needs to be repented of (I John 1:9).
Maybe God’s trying to teach you something and you don’t really know what is but you want someone to pray with you. This altar is open to you. Whatever you need to do this morning, you come.
(Pray)
