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Hearing from the God of the Unexpected

Hearing from the God of the Unexpected. Habakkuk 2:2-20 Lewis Winkler. Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 in Review. There is evil and injustice in Israel and God seems to be doing nothing about it. Habakkuk asks God for an explanation.

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Hearing from the God of the Unexpected

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  1. Hearing from the God of the Unexpected Habakkuk 2:2-20 Lewis Winkler

  2. Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 in Review • There is evil and injustice in Israel and God seems to be doing nothing about it. • Habakkuk asks God for an explanation. • God tells Habakkuk that He will deal with Israel by sending the Babylonians to conquer and exile the Israelites. • Habakkuk is shocked and dismayed by this response since he believes it compromises God’s righteousness and jeopardizes the fulfilment of His covenant promises to Israel. • Habakkuk takes his stand and waits for God to explain Himself.

  3. What is a theodicy? • God is all-good, all-knowing and all-powerful. • He desires justice to be carried out upon the earth. • He knows how to bring about this justice. • He is able to bring about this justice. • Therefore, how can He be justified in allowing evil and injustice in the world?

  4. Possible (wrong) answers to this (apparent) problem: • Deny God’s existence (Atheism). • Deny God’s absolute justice/goodness (Revisionism). • Deny God’s absolute knowledge (Open Theism). • Deny God’s absolute power (Deism).

  5. What, then, is the solution? God has good reason (or reasons) for allowing a limited amount of injustice in the world.

  6. What is (are) that (those) reason(reasons)? • Evil is a necessary corollary to human freedom and responsibility. • Evil makes certain higher virtues (like courage and self-sacrifice, for example) possible. • There are only two types of beings possible in the universe, corruptible and incorruptible. God alone is incorruptible. Thus, if He chooses to create other beings, they must necessarily be corruptible and subject to weakness, error, and outright wrong-doing. • Evil is one important part of God’s means for developing mature human persons (sometimes called, “soul-making”). • What we consider evil and unjust often has a greater meaning and significance in God’s plan and economy which we cannot fully comprehend or appreciate due to our limitations and corruptibility.

  7. Some Possible Biblical Answers: • God’s greater glory and purpose is unknown by us in advance and often only revealed later in time (Joseph in Genesis). • He knows exactly what He is doing even if it doesn’t always look that way to us. Until we are able to explain all the mysteries and inner workings of the universe, we are better off humbly expressing our finite ignorance and letting God take care of it in the way He sees fit (Job). • Justice will be served, but not necessarily by our desired methods or within our desired time-frame (Habakkuk).

  8. Habakkuk 2:2-5: Record the Vision and Live by Faith • Record the vision (verses 2-3). • Pride is unfulfilling, and prevents people from doing what is right, as well as understanding and trusting in God (verse 4-5). • The righteous, however, live by faith in God (verse 4).

  9. A Tale of Two Preachers: • Chuck • Will

  10. Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and Judgments upon Babylon: • Woe to the Plunderer (verses 6-8).

  11. Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes andJudgmentsupon Babylon: • Woe to the seeker of sordid gain (verses 9-11).

  12. Bernie Madoff, Just One More Seeker of Sordid Gain

  13. Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and Judgments upon Babylon: • Woe to the Violent Oppressor (verses 12-14).

  14. Recent Oppressive and Violent Kingdoms: • Joseph Stalin • Benito Mussolini • Adolf Hitler • Emperor Hirohito • Pol Pot • Saddam Hussein

  15. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” —verse 14

  16. Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and Judgments upon Babylon: • Woe to the Debaucher (verses 15-17).

  17. Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes andJudgmentsupon Babylon: • Woe to the Idolater (verses 18-20).

  18. Isaiah 44:9-19

  19. “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” —verse 20

  20. The ISOT, California Saga:

  21. My Commitment to Go Overseas Long-Term: The Caleb Declaration

  22. The ISOT, California Saga: From California . . .

  23. . . . to Singapore

  24. Conclusion and Application: • Read Daniel 4:28-37 • Read Daniel 5. • Remember, God will ultimately make every wrong right and provide justice for all, even if and when He is silent for the time being.

  25. “Silence”by Joy Williams Are you listening to anything that I say‘Cause I’ve been prayingHow many prayers can I prayI’m still waitingMaybe You’ll show up todayI know You’re here, but I can’t feel YouAnd if You’re speaking, I can’t hear YouHow much longer will this last

  26. “Silence”by Joy Williams So okay, answer me with silenceIt’s okay if You don’t say a wordYou’re testing me to trust You’ll be faithful in this quietSo okay, answer me . . . with silence

  27. “Silence”by Joy Williams Why do I question Your intentions for meWhen Your affection is a proven legacyOh Father, Father, turn my fears into peaceI know Your love will never leaveI know You want what’s best for me

  28. “Silence”by Joy Williams So okay, answer me with silenceIt’s okay if You don’t say a word‘Cause You’re testing me to trust You’ll be faithful in this quietSo okay, answer me . . . with silence

  29. “Silence”by Joy Williams You’re testing me to trust You’ll be faithful in this quiet

  30. “Silence”by Joy Williams Oh, it’s okay if You answer me with silenceAnd it’s okay if You don’t say a wordYou’re testing me to trust You'll be faithful in this quietSo okay, answer me . . . with silence

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