God at work in Difficulty

Introduction

Church, let me ask you something. If I were to say to you these words ""He’s got the whole world” to you, what would be the next words that come to your mind?___________ That’s right, He’s got the whole world in His hands. For most of us here, I'm sure this is a Hymn that we grew up either singing or have at least heard about. Who’s sung this hymn in church or at a church function before? Church, as simple as this hymn is, and as often as it is thought of or relegated to a children’s hymn or song, it has a profound truth to it that we are all to remember often. That is, God is big, great big. In Fact, God is much bigger than you think. So often, we get caught up in our own troubles and problems, that we forget this, and can’t see Him even though He is always towering over us, firmly in control, and actively leading and directing to perfection. So then, do you believe that? Do you know and believe that God is much much bigger than you can get your mind around? I would warn you, not to be so sure.

The answer of course, yes it is, and intellectually all Christians should be able to come to this conclusion. But, when rubber meets the road, difficulty and strife come in, when the deep darkness sets in, do you really believe it, or do your thoughts and actions show doubt? In today’s text, and in the next few week’s, we will see God reveal some of the bigness and power in ways that the people of Israel would never expect. Why? Because they had a limited view on God, because they were too focused (and afraid) on what was in front of them, instead of considering all of the world at that time and indeed into the short term and long term future. It is my hope that you will, from this series, take on a position of braveness in all your life, because God is much bigger than you think, and God works even in the most difficult of our situations.

Prayer

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. I ask these things for your glory and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

Context

Today, we begin a short series through the book of Habakkuk, which is a prophetic book of the bible that asks hard questions, and sometimes the answers are hard to swallow, yet good for us to hear.

The book of Habakkuk itself, is one of the books of the minor prophets in your old testament. It is widely accepted to be penned by the prophet himself, though as a prophet what we know about him isn’t very as much as many of the others. This book is also unique in it’s genera of prophecy, as usually God gives a message to a prophet who is to go and then declare that message to others; however Habakkuk isn’t like this, rather this book is a more of a dialogue (a conversation) between God and the prophet; with Habakkuk asking questions, and God showing him the answers. Typically within the prophets, we see declarations of divine judgement coming soon or the very real risk of it coming soon if changes are not made, rather Habakkuk asks for divine judgement on wicked men.

In this time in Israel, was a very desperate time filled with poverty, injustice, blatant sin, and a very real threat of destruction on the horizon. You see, over 300 years before, the kingdoms of Israel and Judah had split over differences between worship and kingship. Then a little over 100 years before, the people of Israel had received divine judgement from God and were thus conquered and occupied by the powerful nation of Assyria. Now, somewhere around 405BC, the occupation had gone on for so long and the situation had grown desperate for the faithful.

During his time and life, other prophets spoke out, including Jeremiah, Zephenia, Obadiah, and Nahum, others were around later in his time as well including Ezekiel, and tales exist (though their is no record of it happening in the bible) of Habakkuk coming to Daniel’s aid while he was in the lion’s den. So, clearly God was warning the people of further judgement to come for both themselves in their rebellion and falling further away and on the powers that ruled them wickedly and unjustly.

What habakkuk learned from his encounter with God in this book and a lesson that we can take away is that God is bigger than you think. Often we miss Him at work, because we are focused on the issues that immediately affect us on that day and period, but fail to see the big picture and how the little pieces of everyone’s life add up to that. This means, yes we will have difficulty and suffering, but those in Christ we can be assured that always God is up to something even bigger than we can imagine. So, let’s see that From the text and jump in where, I want you to see, do, and understand these statements because God is working, even in your most difficult times.

Message

The first statement to see and understand is that: Desperate situations will happen. 1-4

1 The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2 How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence and you do not save? 3 Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate[a] wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. 4 This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

Many of your bible’s may use the word oracle, rather than the word pronouncement, and yes both of these words are good uses here, however I like the word oracle, because the word itself tells that this was heaven burden of a message that was to be received and shared. So knowing this, what Habbakuk is experiencing is not pleasant or fun, it is a hard burden that is very heavy, very weighty, very felt. We begin here with a very frustrated prayer to God by the prophet. He calls out in agony to God, how much longer must I call and cry out to you God about all the violence and terrible things going on, and yet you do not intervene!? I look around, all is is injustice and tragedy that you (of all Gods) should not tolerate. Our people are oppressed and beaten and everything keeps getting worse and worse! The powers that be, they make a mockery of justice and right-doing, they only serve themselves so that the very system of justice is broken and useless and only used to get ill gotten gains. This is terrible God, and I just can’t bare it anymore, please do something! Begged the prophet. This was a desperate situation for Habakkuk and all the people of Israel, who were still at this moment receiving the just rewards for the great injustice and wickedness that they had before done.

This moment comes along with a great question, that every person, every believer and non-believer alike asks and must ponder for themselves. That is, if our God is a good God, then why do all of these terrible things keep happening? Why is there so much hurt, sin, sickness, death, and injury, and injustice in the world? Why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people? These questions are all ones that we must ponder, and many non-believers use these questions as half hearted evidence against the existence of God . However, I perceive that they do not know what they are asking, lack understanding/background, and are looking for an excuse to excuse their rebellion.

The critical element we all miss, when we come to the conclusion that either their isn’t a God, or he doesn’t care is the truth that God is bigger than you think. And just because He is big, does not mean that desperate situation will not happen. No, they will, and you have a hard time getting to that, you are thinking that God is much much smaller than He is. God is Big, Powerful, Great big, ultimately powerful. He is so big and so powerful that He can and does take terrible situations and make them grand and good. He is and is capable of moving all things around in history by turning the tide of a battle in your favor at any moment He so chooses. However, you must remember this. Yes, mankind you are valued and treasured by God, yes this true. If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are like a son or daughter to Him, yes. But, there is something that is more important to God than us. That is, the other persons of the trinity, and His glory. In fact, God tells us in our bible’s that He is jealous for His Glory, Jealous for His name. These are very very important to Him. And, as His creations that were created to worship Him and bring glory to Him, get this, since He made us for that purpose, that’s just what He is going to do! Use us for His glory and delight. This means, inevitably, that he will allow darkness a place, but not a place to rule, because His light and truth glows all the brighter when we see the bright wonders He brings out of the darkness! Desperate situations will happen, but we can rest well knowing that our God is much bigger than you think!

The next statement to see, understand, and do is to: Look and think outside yourself 5-11

5 Look at the nations[b] and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it. 6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,[c] that bitter, impetuous nation that marches across the earth’s open spaces to seize territories not its own. 7 They are fierce and terrifying; their views of justice and sovereignty stem from themselves. 8 Their horses are swifter than leopards and more fierce[d] than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead; their horsemen come from distant lands. They fly like eagles, swooping to devour. 9 All of them come to do violence; their faces are set in determination.[e] They gather prisoners like sand. 10 They mock kings, and rulers are a joke to them. They laugh at every fortress and build siege ramps to capture it. 11 Then they sweep by like the wind and pass through. They are guilty;[f] their strength is their god.

Habakkuk here receives a reply, though not the one he would expect, to his prayer about all the terrible things that keep happening to the people under and during Assyrian rule. God charges Habakkuk here, stop being so narrow minded and focusing on yourself, look up, Look bigger, look at all the nations, observe and be astounded! I am doing and have long been working on something for your situation. Yes, Assyria has been strong, but it’s power has been weakening while I have been strengthening the power of another nation. All this time, I have been building up the power and might the Chaldeans (also known as the babylonians). I have been building up the power of this haughty country who is totally running rull speed ahead to it’s own destruction because of it’s own wants, desires, and greed. They will be mighty and they trample over everyone and every earthly power they come against. To them, might is right, so they have revealed in the power I have given them. Yet, I give them this verdict, they are rebellious they are guilty and I will bring judgement on them. That is, not until after they sweep over that old power of Assyria, who has been keeping the people of Israel and Judah down for all this time. This part of your judgement is over, but yes another is coming before your redemption.

As human beings, we are only capable of so much information and understanding. That is why the recent proliferation (increase) in news/happenings/information by the ways of modern media and technology have had terrible effects on our mental conditions and minds as of late. Because, we are not supposed to continually dwell in bad news and information, because we have enough going on in front of us to keep us occupied. However, as God is pointing out, it is important sometimes to look up and see that the world is much bigger than us and our problems and our triumphs.

This is what God is charging Nehemiah with, look up, look past your problems, and see the bigger picture and you will be astounded at what I have been working, yes what you have been going through is terrible, but I am working my way towards a good for you, but part of this good means another bad is coming. Yes, I am a good God who can take a double terrible and make it a wonderful good for you. God promised this us all the way back, we read about this in Genesis 3, where God promised that one will come (and has come for us today) who will finally bring a end to evil and shame; Jesus Christ the Righteous. So, when you are hurting, when the finances seem and feel unfair, when you feel overwhelmed, when the lab results are bad, when you see that loved one slipping away, remember this, God is bigger than you think. To understand this, sometimes we must look up and think outside of ourselves, our want’s our desires, and instead consider the wants’, the will, the desires of the King of King and The Lord of Lords, who wants so badly for your good and precious creation (mankind, you) to be returned to Him in perfect relationship and endless joy. Your hurt, your trial, is all a part of this big story, this grand story, that is the greatest story ever told.

Conclusion

Beloved, we can all agree that desperate situations will happen. Yes, we all go through them. Perhaps you are going through one right now. I don’t want discount that desperate situation, rather just as the prophet did here, it is better to acknowledge it so that you attend to it as it really deserves. Not doing so is called something, it’s called being lying and despite, even if it’s to yourself. Yes, these moments will happen, the deep dark will seem to set in many times in your life. But, when that happens, I also urge you to do do as God told Habakkuk, to look up. See that God is doing and working in ways often so big and grand that we can’t even perceive it. You God has not abandoned you, no. He loves you. He wants the best for you, and as a the prophet Paul promised us in our bible’s, that all things work together for God for those in Christ. So, keep your chin up. Don’t be afraid to admit and share your burdens with one another, that we encourage one another to see our majestic and wonderful Lord who is working in great big ways.

With all of that being said, I would be remiss if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God, though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do is accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can be more like You, and made more into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all too often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possibly can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.