In our perplexities in life, we often question God and His way of dealing with us. In today's message we will explore how to approach and ask God questions in the right way.
Habakkuk 1:12-17
12 LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will never die.
You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
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 people like the fish in the sea, like the 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?
Habakkuk - Questioning God about his difficult circumstances.
1. How long should I wait? (v.2)
2. Why are these things happening in life? (v.3)
God's Answer (v. 5-6)
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 Babyloniansthat ruthless and impetuous people,
God’s answer to Habakkuk raised even more questions:
1. Why Babylonians?
2. Why does he tolerate such things?
We CAN ask questions to God.
How can we ask God in the right way?
The right way of asking God:
1. Stop to think
James 1:19 “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
2. Remember the biblical principles. (v 12)
Habakkuk asked God without attacking God’s characters; rather, remembering God’s characters.
12 LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die.
You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.
Habakkuk's 5 propositions about who God is
1) God is eternal "LORD, are you not from everlasting?"
2) God is self-existent "LORD" = "Yahweh" " you will never die."
3) God is holy " My God, my Holy One"
4) God is sovereign (almighty) " You, LORD, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish."
5) God is faithful "My Rock"
3. Commit the problems to God in faith if still in doubt (v. 13-17)
13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
The attitude of Jesus:
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”