When God Afflicts

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Despite dire circumstances, God's character gives us confidence to trust Him.

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Introduction

Life is full of afflictions
How do we reconcile God being in control with affliction
Is it out of his control?

Is it

The Israelites
Promised land and descendants
Jacob and his sons leave the land because of a famine and go to Egypt
400 years of slavery
The exile
wandering in the wilderness
conquer the land
have kings appointed
kingdom splits
200 years of evil kings, people sacrificing children, worshiping other Gods
God sends the Assyrian empire to conquer Israel and Judah
The Israelites are led out of the land they were promised which is full of famine
Israel is wicked, but not as wicked as the Assyrians.
?How do we rightly think about God when he allows afflictions to come on us?

Reflect on the God Who Afflicts You

Habakkuk responds to God’s character and actions
God is brilliant (v.3-4)
Habakkuk 3:3–4 ESV
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.
God is Creator (v.6)
Habakkuk 3:6 ESV
He stood and measured the earth; he looked and shook the nations; then the eternal mountains were scattered; the everlasting hills sank low. His were the everlasting ways.
Habakkuk 3:
God is Dominating (v.8-12)
Habakkuk 3:8–12 ESV
Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord? Was your anger against the rivers, or your indignation against the sea, when you rode on your horses, on your chariot of salvation? You stripped the sheath from your bow, calling for many arrows. Selah You split the earth with rivers. The mountains saw you and writhed; the raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice; it lifted its hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their place at the light of your arrows as they sped, at the flash of your glittering spear. You marched through the earth in fury; you threshed the nations in anger.

God is Salvation (v.13-15)
Habakkuk 3:13–15 ESV
You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed. You crushed the head of the house of the wicked, laying him bare from thigh to neck. Selah You pierced with his own arrows the heads of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter me, rejoicing as if to devour the poor in secret. You trampled the sea with your horses, the surging of mighty waters.
At the thought of who God is, Habakkuk trembled (v.16a)
habakkuk 3:
Habakkuk 3:16 ESV
I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
Because of who God is and who he is

Submit to the God Who Afflicts You

Habakkuk submitted to God’s judgment on Israel (v.16b)
Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
Habakkuk 3:16 ESV
I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
In the judgment, Israel would be stripped of all the inheritance God promised to them
Habakkuk 3:16 ESV
I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us.
habakkuk 3:17-

Trust in the God Who Afflicts You

Trust In the God Who Afflicts You

Habakkuk 3:17 ESV
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,
Their land would cease to produce food and their flocks would all die
This was the land that “flowed with milk and honey”
A speeding car behind you on the interstate
You pull off to let him go by
As he passes, you see its your dad
Your mindset changes, and you know something is wrong

Conclusion

My dad
Teaching me to walk with God
Spanking him
Depression
We can trust our father, because we know him!
Cling to the God who afflicts you
He was afflicted for you
Sin brought pain and suffering into this world, breaking our relationship with God
God uses broken things
Christ took our suffering for us, although he had done no wrong.
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