Where is God?
Lessons from Habakkuk
“Where is God?” Many ask this question when evil is on the rise and life doesn’t make sense. This would include God’s own prophet, Habakkuk, who questioned His absence when wickedness prospered. Fortunately for us, his encounter with God is recorded in the Book of Habakkuk. So, if you, too, wonder why God does not intervene, you will want to know how He responded to Habakkuk’s frustration.
Habakkuk was deeply troubled by the destructive evil that the people of Judah did in rebellion against God. So, he asked God a series of questions summed up this way: “Why do evil people go unpunished?” God had already given His people many times to repent of their idolatry, violence, and injustice, but they ignored Him. Indeed, they didn’t care what God thought anymore, so they repeatedly broke their covenant with Him. And this greatly disturbed God’s prophet, Habakkuk.
Destruction and violence are before me, there is strife and conflict abounds. Therefore, the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous so that justice is perverted. Habakkuk 1:3-4
Like us, Habakkuk lived in a time of political turmoil and corruption when he wrote this, so we completely understand how he feels. For we, too, look for justice, but there is none because so many have rejected God. Thus, we find ourselves asking the same question David wrote in his day, “when the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Where is God When Evil Wins
How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Habakkuk 1:2-3
Habakkuk sees violence and injustice all around him, yet He knows that his God is righteous and hates evil. Therefore, he can’t understand why God is tolerating sin. So, Habakkuk asks God directly, “Why do you allow suffering and leave the wicked unpunished?”
The lesson from Habakkuk: Like Habakkuk, we, too, find God’s ways confusing at times, especially when we see evil people sin with impunity. Of course, God already knows your thoughts, but He wants you to come to Him with your struggles and doubts like Habakkuk did. Assuredly, the Bible says that God hears your prayer, so be like Habakkuk and tell Him your concerns. And then, wait expectantly for His answer.
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3
God Answers Habakkuk
Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked be jubilant? Psalm 94:2-3
When wicked people are in power, they oppress and crush the innocent without conscience. Accordingly, both the Psalmist and Habakkuk asked God similar questions: “How long was He going to allow the wicked to succeed?”And “why hasn’t He punished the wicked for their sin?” But then, the Lord answered Habakkuk, “I will.”
“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. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own.
They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. They all come bent on violence. They deride kings and scoff at rulers. They laugh at all fortified cities; guilty men, whose own strength is their god.” Habakkuk 1:5-7, 10-11
God told Habakkuk that He would bring the wicked Babylonians against Judah to punish them for their rebellion and unrepentant sin. Now, reread the verse and notice that God’s answer to Habakkuk shows that He did know what was going on. And that God had a purpose and a plan even before Habakkuk asked his questions. Furthermore, we also learn from these verses that God sees man’s heart because He describes the evil Babylonians in detail. Notably, Babylon is in present-day Iraq. And God’s description reminds us of the many terrorist organizations in the Middle East.
God is Sovereign Over Nations
God reveals Himself and His plans to those who seek Him. And because God is sovereign over people, nations, and world events, He promises that He will judge evil in His timing. So, when justice is perverted, and the wicked prosper, will you trust God’s Word when He says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” Therefore, with God’s help, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Does He who implanted the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye not see? Does He who disciplines nations not punish? Does He who teaches man lack knowledge? The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile. Psalm 94:9-11
God Will Judge Judah
God answered Habakkuk’s honest questions, but not how he wanted. So, Habakkuk has a second complaint: How could God use the Babylonian nation to punish Judah when they were even more wicked?
My God, my Holy One, 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? Habakkuk 1:12-13
Habakkuk had been in anguish over his country’s sin. But now, he was appalled that God would use such a ruthless and violent nation to punish His people. So, after Habakuk expressed himself to God, he waited for Him to respond.
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. Habakkuk 2:1
Notice that Habakkuk believed that God would answer him. So, do you expect God to answer your prayers? Or do you say, “Where is God,” but you neglect to seek Him in prayer?
The lesson from Habakkuk: God uses people and nations who do not acknowledge Him to serve His purposes. And because God is holy and entirely separated from sin and evil, His judgments are always righteous. Therefore, when a nation, or even ourselves, deserves correction, how can we complain about the kind of discipline God uses?
God Disciplines His Children
God reminded Habakkuk that He neither slumbers nor sleeps, and He rules over all creation. And because God is righteous and just, He cannot allow unrepentant sin to go unpunished. So, as Judah demonstrates, judgment begins with the household of God. For the Lord disciplines those He loves so they might repent and return to Him.
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:17-19
Lessons from Where Is God
God tests our faith in numerous ways, but doubts quickly arise when He is silent or appears to do nothing. Then, Satan whispers, “God is powerless, God does not care, God is not good, God is not who you thought He was.” But resist the temptation to doubt God. Instead, ask God to strengthen your faith to trust Him and then stand firm in the truth of His Word.
So, the next time you wonder where God is, remember that He is still on His throne. And recall that God’s ways are not your ways, and His thoughts are not your thoughts. Hence, when you place your trust in Him, you acknowledge that He is God and you are not. So, it is okay to wonder what God is doing, but don’t dwell there. Instead, continue to walk by faith and do good.
But the Lord is in His holy temple; Let all the earth be silent before Him. Habakkuk 2:20
God Will Judge the Babylonians
In essence, God answered Habakkuk’s complaints by telling him this: Judgment may not come quickly, but it will come. Therefore, even though the wicked triumph for a time, they will not prevail. Then God told Habakkuk to record His revelation about the Babylonians so that when it happened, people would know that God did it.
Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. But the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:2-4
God promised Habakkuk that He would judge the sins of His people according to His timing. He also guaranteed that what the Babylonians inflicted on Judah would come back on them.
You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed! The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory. Habakkuk 2:16
God’s Revelation Fulfilled
God’s prophetic word about Babylon happened when He raised up Cyrus, king of Medo-Persia, to defeat the Babylonians in 539 B.C. Later, Cyrus allowed the exiled Jews to return home. In the same way, God uses evil people to accomplish His good plans and purposes today. If God could not rule over evil, He would not be God.
The lesson from Habakkuk: God rules the universe, so He alone sees the big picture. Therefore, nothing happens without his knowledge or permission. So, whenever you wonder where God is, wait on the Lord and continue to live by faith. God is moving history toward the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Habakkuk’s Humble Prayer of Faith
At last, Habakkuk sees his human limitations in contrast to Almighty God’s wisdom, power, and sovereign control over nations and world events. And because only God sees the end from the beginning, Habakkuk again realizes that the righteous live by faith in God alone. Therefore, he submits himself to God’s timing and plan.
A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet. Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:1-2
A lesson from Habakkuk: Only Holy God knows the hearts of people, so judgment belongs to Him alone. And God promises that evil will not triumph forever! Furthermore, you can trust Him to vindicate those faithful to Him because God is a righteous judge. So then, in a wicked world, trust in the Lord and do not lean on your human understanding. Instead, wait patiently for Him to act, and do not lose faith because nothing is too difficult for God.
Another lesson from Habakkuk: In challenging times, God gives His followers strength and confidence when they trust in Him and not in themselves. And when Christ returns, He will rid the world of evil. Therefore, live confidently in Jesus’ victory over evil at the cross by putting to death the sin in your own life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Righteous Live by Faith
But the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4
Habakkuk began by informing God how to run the world, but instead, his encounter with God humbled him. So, even though Habakkuk anticipates tremendous distress at the hands of the Babylonians, he closes with a moving expression of renewed faith and trust in His God.
I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:16-19
Through trials and tribulations and in the darkest of days, believe God’s Word, trust in Him, and cling to His promises. So, may God be the strength of your heart always as you walk by faith and not by sight.
Answers to the Question, “Where is God?”
God Is Sovereign over nations and world events
God’s ways are not our ways
The righteous live by faith
God uses evil to accomplish His good purposes
God answers prayer
God disciplines His children
God judges the wicked in His timing
God forgives those who repent of their sins
Trusting God leads to hope, not bitter resignation
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Week 1: Job 1:1-22; 39:1-30; 40:1-2, 8; 41:11; 42:1-6; Psalms 2:1-12; 5:3-6; 9:1-20; 10:1-18; 11:1-7; 15:1-5; 18:1-6, 16-19, 25-33; 21:8-13; 33:4-15, 20-22; 73:1-28; 75:1-10; 89:14-15; 94:1-23; 97:10-12; 113:4-6; 142:1-7
Week 2: Proverbs 1:22-33; 3:5-7, 11-12; 11-12; 11:21; 14:12, 16, 34; 15:3; 16:2-5, 20, 25; 21:15, 30; Isaiah 5:16, 20-23; 10:1-3; 13:9-13; 29:13-16, 20-21; 30:18; 40:12-15, 21-31; 43:11; 45:5-7, 9-13, 22-25; 46:9-11; 55:7-11; 59:1-2, 9, 12-14; 64:1-7
Week 3: Jeremiah 17:1-14; 30:10-11; 32:17, 27; Daniel 2:20-22; 4:34-37; Amos 2:4-5; 5:14-15; Habakkuk 1:1-17; 2:1-20; 3:1-19; Luke 1:37; 18:1-8; John 3:16-21; 5:24-30; Romans 1:17; 2:1-16; 8:28-39; 12:17-21; 14:11-12; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 5:7-10, 15-21; Galatians 3:11; 5:13-26
Week 4: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 4:13-16; 10:28-39; 11:1, 6; 12:5-11; 1 Peter 4:17-19; 5:7-11; 2 Peter 3:3-13; 1 John 2:28-29; 3:8-10; 4:4-6; 5:1-5; Revelation 3:1-3, 6, 11-13, 17-20; 15:3-4; 18:1-8; 20:11-15; 22:11-13, 20-21
