When God doesn’t make sense

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

Matt Carson

9th August 2015

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

12 LORD, are you not from everlasting?    My God, my Holy One, we will never die.

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

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.

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

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?

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

14 You have made people like the fish in the sea,    like the sea creatures that have no ruler.

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

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.

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

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.

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,    destroying nations without mercy?

Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

17 Is he to keep on emptying his net,    destroying nations without mercy?2:1 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.

Hebrews 12:11

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it

Hebrews 12:11

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it

Proverbs 12:1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

3 Ways of Dealing

1. Remember my own limited perspective

Habakkuk 1:5

5 “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.

Dealing with situations that don’t make sense

1. Remember my own limited perspective

2. Remember God tells me that He loves me

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Isaiah 59:2

But your iniquities have separated    you from your God;

Dealing with situations that don’t make sense

1. Remember my own limited perspective

2. Remember God tells me that He loves me

3. Remember the way God shows His love towards me

Habakkuk 1:13

Why are you silent while the wicked    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 5:8

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Tim Keller

“The gospel says you are more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe, but more accepted and loved than you ever dared hope.”

Dealing with situations that don’t make sense

1. Remember my own limitations

2. Remember God tells me that He loves me

3. Remember the way God shows His love towards me

John 5:24

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

John 6:67So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

John 6:67So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”

John 6:68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.