A World Gone Mad – Questions for God

Before starting on this series, have you read “the background”?

Habakkuk 1:1-3:

‘The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. How long, 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 wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.’ 

• ‘Why did God allow that to happen?’

• ‘Why didn’t God intervene?’

• Have you ever asked these questions?

Questions for God

As a Christian pastor of many years, I have often heard them. Both Christians and non-church attendees have cried out to me, “Why? Where was God?”

Pick up the daily newspaper, or switch on the TV Download emails, browse Google, Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media. They all paint a horrific picture of a world gone mad. Terrorism, violence, murder, gender-based violence, farm attacks. protest marches, looting, muggings, hijacks, bank robberies, ATM bombings, mass shootings, injustice, international strife, oppression, corruption, embezzlement . . . depressed yet?

Frequent Questions:

Often we hear the following cries:

• How is it that perpetrators are not brought to justice?

• Why is it often the good people that are the victims?

• Are folk entirely unaware that they are flaunting God’s laws so openly?

• Where is God in all this?

These are not new questions.

How are the perpetrators not brought to justice? Why are the good folk often the victims? Pastor Rob has this to say. Click To Tweet

Habakkuk’s Questions

The prophet Habakkuk asked similar questions of God.

“Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere?” Habakkuk 1:2 CEV.

 

Taking it further

Spend a few minutes thinking about (or discussing) these points. Visualize God sitting on the chair next to you, and ask HIM the questions concerning what is on your mind right now..

• Where were you when this happened?

• Why did you allow this?

• Surely it is the good people who so often suffer the most?

• How can you allow folk to show disrespect for the principles contained in your Word?

What sort of answers do you think God would give?

We will see how  Habakkuk’s prophecy differs from the other Old Testament prophets. They generally announced God’s judgment on the Jewish nation for her failure to obey God’s law passed down to them through Moses, Habakkuk actually appealed to God to pour out His justice upon Israel’s wicked enemies. Habakkuk asked questions!

‘The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.’ Psalm 20:6 

What question would you like to ask God today?

Go ahead and ask it! He’s not afraid of your questions, and He won’t be angry.

He knows your feelings, so you may as well put them into words.

Share your question if you feel free to do so in the comment section.