When God Doesn't Part 3

God Told Habakkuk to chisel out the message God gave him so that people who will read this message after him will know about God’s faithfulness then and now in their time!

-During the time we are waiting for God to answer we need to be obedient to what he calls us to in that waiting time

-Melwood what did you all experience in the time of pastoral transition?

-Learning, growing, changing, preparing.......none of that was passive waiting. Many people were tired from the process of waiting because there was so much to do in that time.

-What God gives you to do in that time of waiting may be you laying down the road/path others will walk who come after you!

-We have a book now that we can look to and see how God interacted with His prophets....even in time when they felt like he wasn’t listening.

-God gives us things to do in times of waiting and preparation so when he calls us to the task he has prepared us for we can be effective....do the task for which he has called us!

-Waiting can also be seen as a time of training

2. Time.....God Does Not work on our time table

Secondly, God does not always act immediately. Another reason God commands Habakkuk to record his response through writing is because God’s answer will not take place immediately but at some time in the future: “For still the vision awaits its appointed time” (2:3). Just because God answers our prayers, it does not mean the answer is immediate or that rescue is taking place right away.

Third, God’s Word is true and will come about. God declares this about his revelation: “It hastens to the end—it will not lie” (2:3). That is, the promises and plans of God will be completed. There is no deception in the words of God. His Word is true as declares, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Fourth, we are to wait patiently on God. God says, “If it seems slow, wait for it” (2:3). Rarely does God’s timetable match our timetable. In our instantaneous culture, we abhor slow action. Here is a funny illustration of the pain of waiting from Zootopia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY73vFGhSVk.

God will, in his own time, fulfill his Word. “It will surely come; it will not delay” (2:3). The timing of God rarely meets our expectations.

God Told Habakkuk to chisel out the message God gave him so that people who will read this message after him will know about God’s faithfulness then and now in their time!

-During the time we are waiting for God to answer we need to be obedient to what he calls us to in that waiting time

-Melwood what did you all experience in the time of pastoral transition?

-Learning, growing, changing, preparing.......none of that was passive waiting. Many people were tired from the process of waiting because there was so much to do in that time.

-What God gives you to do in that time of waiting may be you laying down the road/path others will walk who come after you!

-We have a book now that we can look to and see how God interacted with His prophets....even in time when they felt like he wasn’t listening.

-God gives us things to do in times of waiting and preparation so when he calls us to the task he has prepared us for we can be effective....do the task for which he has called us!

-Waiting can also be seen as a time of training

God will, in his own time, fulfill his Word. “It will surely come; it will not delay” (2:3). The timing of God rarely meets our expectations.

God will, in his own time, fulfill his Word. “It will surely come; it will not delay” (2:3). The timing of God rarely meets our expectations. Even though God’s answers are sometimes in the distant future, we can be confident that God will indeed fulfill his Word and promises, despite what we perceive as delays and our circumstances seem to contradict.

Fifth, God will, in his own time, fulfill his Word. “It will surely come; it will not delay” (2:3). The timing of God rarely meets our expectations. Even though God’s answers are sometimes in the distant future, we can be confident that God will indeed fulfill his Word and promises, despite what we perceive as delays and our circumstances seem to contradict.

Even though God’s answers are sometimes in the distant future, we can be confident that God will indeed fulfill his Word and promises, despite what we perceive as delays and our circumstances seem to contradict.

as God’s people, our life is to be characterized by faith. God declares,

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith” ().

upright - straight, even, it will please, good

righteous - innocent, just, right......all of this is ours through the righteousness of Jesus whom we trust for our salvation

faith - Truth, trust, steady, stability, honest, entrusted

In contrasting the pride-filled Babylonians, God’s righteous people are to live their lives marked by faith—even in dark times. Faith is a confident outlook of trust and dependence upon God while living in faithfulness to the commands of God. Here is a powerful testimony of a person enduring hardship through their faith in God’s Word: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84f2qEY_EcU.

“The Scriptures also tells us, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths’ (, ESV). From this passage we learn the following:

1) Our response to every situation in life is to trust God. We do not walk by sight but by faith. As we journey through life, we need to choose a God-confidence and put our assurance in God’s word and character.

2) We must not rely on our understanding, perceptions, and expectations. It is easy to default to worry, fear, and anxiety when trials, challenges, and darkness come against us. Also, it is so easy to allow our minds to go crazy and to develop false narratives and stories about our situations.

3) We acknowledge God by trusting him. The Hebrew word for acknowledge means ‘know him.’ To know God does not mean to know facts about him. To know God is to live relationally with him by trusting him.

4) God will make our path in life straight. Rather than seeking clarity to know the exact path to take, we can choose to put our trust in God and obey his directions” (Craig Conaway, “Why Asking God for Clarity Is the Wrong Question to Ask,” http://qara.org/why-asking-god-for-clarity-is-the-wrong-question-to-ask/).

5 Woes of Babylon

God does ensure Habakkuk that the evil nation of Babylon will be judged. In the midst of his response, God pronounces five woes upon the nation of Babylon (vv. 6–20). Habakkuk can rest knowing that God, in his timing and his ways, works everything out in the end according to his purpose.

Woe of Extortion and Violence

Habakkuk 2:6–8 ESV

Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say, “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long?— and loads himself with pledges!” Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble? Then you will be spoil for them. Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.

Habakkuk 2:6

Woe of Trusting Money and Security

Habakkuk 2:9–11 ESV

“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond.

Habakkuk 2

Woe of Nations who build through corruption and murder (Slave Labor)

Habakkuk 2:12–14 ESV

“Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity! Behold, is it not from the Lord of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing? For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:

Woe of Ignorance and Lording over others (Irresponsible Leadership)

Habakkuk 2:15–18 ESV

“Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink— you pour out your wrath and make them drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness! You will have your fill of shame instead of glory. Drink, yourself, and show your uncircumcision! The cup in the Lord’s right hand will come around to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory! The violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, as will the destruction of the beasts that terrified them, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them. “What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols!

Habakkuk 2:15-

Woe of Idolatry

Habakkuk 2:19–20 ESV

Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

Habakkuk 2:

Before we move away from this idea of Babylon I want us to take a look at the concept of Babylon first.

-Babylon is always set up against God

-First time we see it is the tower of Babel in Babylonia :1-9

-the people wanted to praise their name

-the people wanted to be known for what they have done

-Nothing about the goodness of our God

-only for their glorification and gain of power

These issues are not unique to Babylon specifically

Most nations will go through the same patterns as Babylon

Therefore Babylon can be seen as literal city, but also as a metaphor of corrupt power, corrupt leadership, extortion and abuse of people

But God will not remain silent forever!

God will bring down Babylon

God may use corrupt Kingdoms, but he doesn’t endorse them

All nations will be accountable to God’s justice

Finally, God will accomplish his ultimate purpose: the display of his glory throughout the whole earth. In the end, God declares, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (). This is the highest purpose of God—displaying his glory in the world. God will achieve his purposes.

How Do I wait well?

Listen and write down what the Lord is saying during your time of waiting

Not a person who journals? Record the places in scripture , book topics you are drawn to, the life experiences you have while you are waiting for you answer from God. He maybe preparing you for whats next in your life. Or maybe it will be a testimony for the people who will follow after you......children, grandchildren, wife , husband, friends....just like Habakkuk.

When Moses fled to the desert because he killed an Egyptian to protect another Hebrew he relied on the hospitality of the people who took him in....they eventually became his family through marriage and Moses learned how to shepherd animals. 40 years he perfected his skill and learned a different way to live .....gained skills he didn’t have in Egypt.

Look at the places where God has been faithful in your life past or present

says “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” Everything around us is a testimony to the love and faithfulness of God.

God shows us new things in our time of waiting. Sometimes we can see them because we are looking and sometimes we see them because we can’t miss them....

just like Melissa in her time of pain and waiting in her healing the only thing she could do was get out of bed to get to her phone and turn on praise and worship music and be fed by scripture.

Live the way Jesus showed us to live......faithfully.

If there is something you don’t know about whats next, or you feel like you are waiting on an answer from God. In that time live faithfully......without wavering, truthfully, in relationship with God.

In this time we can learn how to live well and trust God will work and show us the answer or give us the answer to our prayer when it is right for his purposes and good for us as his children.