WHY GOD WHY

Habakkuk 1:1-4

Why God why? Have you ever asked that question to God? It’s a question that many inside and outside the church ask on a regular basis. It’s a question that you might what to be very careful in asking a holy God who doesn’t need to answer any of our questions. One of the modern Christian myths of the day is that the when you put your faith in Christ, your entire life gets better and everything you touch turns into gold or for the better. I didn’t receive that memo when Christ got a hold of my heart through the gospel. The sad reality and error to that thinking is that your problems don’t go away they get elevated to Def-Con 4 at times. The biblical truth to the gospel confession is that our internal spiritual position is restored and secured by the grace of God through is Son’s death and resurrection. But! Our external lives are still faced with the present and new set of problems.

As Warren Wiersbe said “Christians who claim to be without problems are either not telling the truth or not growing and experiencing real life.” The hang up the church has been plagued with for so many years with kind of thinking and it has diminished the truth of the gospel message. With false truths “If you come to Jesus all your heartache and pains go away and the world becomes a fantasy land.”

The truth is….Jesus didn’t come to save you from

Cancer

Heartache

Brokenness

Sickness

Drought or famines

The present political climate

Physical death 

He came to save your/our wretched souls from the judgment that is being stored up for those you deny and suppress the truth of the gospel. Paul penned these words “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” Rom 2:4. Jesus came to save us from this wrath! Not from our present problems and evil world system. The underlining truth to the gospel is that the overflowing grace of His salvation makes it possible to endure and to have a joy filled life as you face the present day. To be able to have joy as you face the devastating news that you have cancer, the loss of a job or relationship or just a plan old bad year so far. We are not exempt from problems or struggles in this present world system. Remember what Matthew’s gospel says “For He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:43-45. When we are faced with that question “Why God Why” we need to face this question with the understanding of the Cross in mind. God allows things to happen in our lives so that we grow deeper in His grace and to rely upon Him in every situation. Unfortunately some people equate a good life with the blessings of God and there is truth to that, but there are also blessings that flow in seasons of heart ache and pain.

Our devotion and perseverance in the good and the bad are evidence to the gospel transformation.

Do we call our sufferings and heartaches blessing from God? They are! Paul said this “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” Phil 1:29. To go through sufferings in this life and to be tested as we walk the Christian walk is a blessing as it refines and refinishes us for eternal glory. So let me ask you again! Do think to yourself “Why God why?” Do you wrestle with this question? Maybe not right now in the present, but have you a one point in time? It is a question that plagues all of us in the Christian faith. Every one of us has questions to why God does and allows things to happen in our lives and in the lives of others.

Questions like…. 

Why do good people suffer and it seems that evil people seem to prosper?

Why aren’t you answering my prayer God?

Why are my unsaved loved ones still not responding to the gospel? 

Why did you take my love one so soon and so sudden? 

Why is that I’m doing my best for you Lord and all I experience is heartache and frustration?

One thing we need to understand when we ask questions like this is that we are now entering into the ring with a holy God who is sovereign. The warning signs are up and they are saying “Proceed with extreme caution” The bible is full of people who wrestled with this question. Jacob tried it when he chose to wrestle with a Holy God back in Genesis 32. Job refused to take the easy way out. He suffered the counsel of fools by listening to the advice of his friends, And finally he rose up to challenge God on the matter of why? He rose to challenge God and he faced God alone while wrestling and struggling for answers to his misery. God’s reply was hardly comforting! We read this in Job 38:1-17 “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'? "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. "Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

And it only goes from bad to worse for Job as God continues to pound Job with questions that he knows he cannot answer.

Why do I say that! “Then Job answered the LORD and said: "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further." Job 40:3-5. And in last chapter Job speaks words of wisdom to your heart and my heart when we ask God why! “Then Job answered the LORD and said: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:1-6. The full weight of God’s questions fell hard on Job, but he was able to live without having his questions answered. The same goes for us as well! You might have legitimate questions towards God but don’t lose heart of joy if He chooses to never answer them.

This brings me to the book of Habakkuk We come to a letter were we get front row seats to the question “Why God why?” Habakkuk was a man who was deeply burdened over what was happening to his people.  What was his burden? King Josiah was dead and his son and successor King Jehoiakim was leading the people of Israel. You ask yourself! What’s so bad about that? This is what God had to say about Jehoiakim and his wicked behavior. In Jeremiah 22:17-19 we read this “But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence." Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: "They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah, my brother!' or 'Ah, sister!' They shall not lament for him, saying, 'Ah, lord!' or 'Ah, his majesty!' With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried, dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem." “the burial of a donkey “ means an offensive and detestable manner, that none would mourn or attend his funeral

See! There were four basic principles to why Israel went into captivity.

Their failure to keep the sabbatical year when it came to the land (Lev 25:1-7).

Their obvious and blatant display of idolatry (1 Kings 14:22-24).

Their noticeable display of ungratefulness (Exo 15:24; 1 Sam 8:19-22).

Their handling of the Lord’s anointed the prophets & messengers (1 Chron 16:22).

Habakkuk was just man like us! He was faced with a problem that left him with a heavy burden, not for himself, but his people. A burden heavy enough to get into the ring with God and willing to go a few rounds with the question “Why God Why?” (v1-v4)

God……

Why do you make look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrong?

Why do you tolerate the deceitful?

Why are you silent in front of my enemies?

These kind of “Why” questions often shreds a person’s faith to bits. This is why we need to extremely careful when we approach God, when we observe what’s going on around us. This is one of the most difficult questions for Christians when they are dealing with pain, loss and suffering. The world knows this and they mock us by saying “Where is your God?” The answer! “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!” Psalm 47:7-9

What does this mean? He is seated on the throne in all His glory and He is sovereign and He knows exactly what He is doing. God is sovereign and He is exactly where He is supposed to be and that truth alone should bring comfort to our weary and burdensome souls on a daily basis. But like Habakkuk we sometimes see things through foggy glasses. And we begin to question God with Why?

Look what Habakkuk says to God. Keeping in mind……..

The One who is infinitely worthy of all our praise.

The One who can stop our hearts from breathing whenever He pleases.

The One who created the universe from nothing because He can.

The One who loved us so much that He had to send His Son to die in our place because sinners are detestable to the holiness of God.

Habakkuk says “Why do you make me see iniquity and cause me to look at trouble” (v3) “Iniquity” and “trouble” are in parallel and indicate the general “depravity” of society. Are we saying the same thing today as Habakkuk did so many years ago? Well the answer to that question is Yes!

For example....

The celebration and public acceptance of perversion & fornicating lifestyles this past month. 

The abortion rate and the right to say “It’s my body” so I have the right to kill my child.” 

The corruption of government officials and their lack of concern about Canadian citizens, because they are only concerned about lining their own pockets. 

The lack of national security on the Canadian borders and crossings. 

The disregard to human life at any age, as you can get assistance in killing yourself if your “terminally ill” in Canada. 

The breakdown of the home, the sanctity of marriage and collapse of the Canadian dollar.

The lack of respect for the police and public workers and failing to understand  they are there to help and or to protect you…they are not your enemy.

Universities and Colleges campuses becoming so left wing and Liberal that a conservative view is sunned and ostracized and labeled a “ism” of the talking points of today’s socialist.

Young people taking their own lives and talking the life of other young people though gang or gun violence.

The hatred and divide that the main stream media is trying to propagate in your homes, and through Wi-Fi.

The fighting and bickering that goes on in the true church.

The fighting over versions of the Bible and spiritual gifts and the sufficiency of scripture.

The lack of biblical knowledge and true understanding of the gospel.

The compromise and lack of concern for biblical truth to fit today’s generation, because we don’t what to offend.

We too could say the same thing today as Habakkuk did in his day. The nation was under captivity by wicked men and leaders and they were placed there for God purposes. For the same reasons we see and witness the trouble of our present cultural landscape. Why? Because mankind loves to drink iniquity like water. This observation helps us to understand when we read scripture that says “What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight; how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water!” Job 15:14-16. It’s a person who loves sin, and is as greedy of it, as a thirsty man is of water. They practice it as if it were their very nature; as much as it is to drink a glass of water on a hot day. Prov 19:28 says “…and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.”

Why does God allow us to see and go through the depravity of our day? So that He will be glorified by you and me, no matter what happens behind, beside and before us. So that we grow deeper in love with Him and His gospel that is filled with mercy and grace for sinners. So that we never sway from understanding who is in control and who sits on the throne despite the present cultural climate. But! To truly understand this passage, and to truly try to grasp why Habakkuk asks such questions…. One has to understand something that is foundational to this letter. God is sovereign and that truth alone should be enough! As Job said at the end of the letter “I know that you can do everything, and that no purposes of Yours can be withheld from You.” Job 42:2. As David said “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.” Psalm 139:2. This is exactly what God wants us to do when we are faced with a burden and anguish with our present situation or problem with our present cultural climate. But! Before we see God’s response to Habakkuk I want us next week to look at the sovereignty of God so that we have the ground work and foundation to see God’s answer to Habakkuk’s genuine burden more clearly. So until next week we will stop here and lets leave our questions with God as Habakkuk did here.