Hearing from the Hearing from the God of the God of the UnexpectedUnexpected

Habakkuk 2:2-20Habakkuk 2:2-20

Lewis Winkler

Habakkuk 1:1-2:1 in ReviewHabakkuk 1:1-2:1 in Review There is evil and injustice in Israel and God seems to be doing There is evil and injustice in Israel and God seems to be doing

nothing about it.nothing about it.

Habakkuk asks God for an explanation.Habakkuk asks God for an explanation.

God tells Habakkuk that He will deal with Israel by sending the God tells Habakkuk that He will deal with Israel by sending the Babylonians to conquer and exile the Israelites.Babylonians to conquer and exile the Israelites.

Habakkuk is shocked and dismayed by this response since he Habakkuk is shocked and dismayed by this response since he believes it compromises God’s righteousness and jeopardizes the believes it compromises God’s righteousness and jeopardizes the fulfilment of His covenant promises to Israel.fulfilment of His covenant promises to Israel.

Habakkuk takes his stand and waits for God to explain Himself.Habakkuk takes his stand and waits for God to explain Himself.

What is a theodicy?What is a theodicy? God is all-good, all-knowing and all-God is all-good, all-knowing and all-

powerful.powerful.

He desires justice to be carried out upon the earth.He desires justice to be carried out upon the earth.

He knows how to bring about this justice.He knows how to bring about this justice.

He is able to bring about this justice.He is able to bring about this justice.

Therefore, how can He be justified in Therefore, how can He be justified in allowing evil and injustice in the world?allowing evil and injustice in the world?

Possible (wrong) answers to this Possible (wrong) answers to this (apparent) problem:(apparent) problem: Deny God’s existence (Atheism).Deny God’s existence (Atheism).

Deny God’s absolute justice/goodness Deny God’s absolute justice/goodness (Revisionism).(Revisionism).

Deny God’s absolute knowledge (Open Deny God’s absolute knowledge (Open Theism).Theism).

Deny God’s absolute power (Deism).Deny God’s absolute power (Deism).

What, then, is the solution?What, then, is the solution?

God has good reason (or reasons) for God has good reason (or reasons) for allowing a limited amount of injustice in allowing a limited amount of injustice in the world.the world.

What is (are) that (those) reason(reasons)?What is (are) that (those) reason(reasons)? Evil is a necessary corollary to human freedom and responsibility.Evil is a necessary corollary to human freedom and responsibility.

Evil makes certain higher virtues (like courage and self-sacrifice, for Evil makes certain higher virtues (like courage and self-sacrifice, for example) possible.example) possible.

There are only two types of beings possible in the universe, corruptible There are only two types of beings possible in the universe, corruptible and incorruptible. God alone is incorruptible. Thus, if He chooses to and incorruptible. God alone is incorruptible. Thus, if He chooses to create other beings, they must necessarily be corruptible and subject to create other beings, they must necessarily be corruptible and subject to weakness, error, and outright wrong-doing.weakness, error, and outright wrong-doing.

Evil is one important part of God’s means for developing mature human Evil is one important part of God’s means for developing mature human persons (sometimes called, “soul-making”).persons (sometimes called, “soul-making”).

What we consider evil and unjust often has a greater meaning and What we consider evil and unjust often has a greater meaning and significance in God’s plan and economy which we cannot fully significance in God’s plan and economy which we cannot fully comprehend or appreciate due to our limitations and corruptibility.comprehend or appreciate due to our limitations and corruptibility.

Some Possible Biblical Answers:Some Possible Biblical Answers: God’s greater glory and purpose is unknown by us in God’s greater glory and purpose is unknown by us in

advance and often only revealed later in time (Joseph in advance and often only revealed later in time (Joseph in Genesis).Genesis).

He knows exactly what He is doing even if it doesn’t He knows exactly what He is doing even if it doesn’t always look that way to us. Until we are able to explain always look that way to us. Until we are able to explain all the mysteries and inner workings of the universe, we all the mysteries and inner workings of the universe, we are better off humbly expressing our finite ignorance and are better off humbly expressing our finite ignorance and letting God take care of it in the way He sees fit (Job).letting God take care of it in the way He sees fit (Job).

Justice will be served, but not necessarily by our desired Justice will be served, but not necessarily by our desired methods or within our desired time-frame (Habakkuk).methods or within our desired time-frame (Habakkuk).

Habakkuk 2:2-5: Record the Vision Habakkuk 2:2-5: Record the Vision and Live by and Live by FaithFaith Record the vision (verses 2-3).Record the vision (verses 2-3).

Pride is unfulfilling, and prevents people Pride is unfulfilling, and prevents people from doing what is right, as well as from doing what is right, as well as understanding and trusting in God understanding and trusting in God (verse 4-5).(verse 4-5).

The righteous, however, live by faith in The righteous, however, live by faith in God (verse 4).God (verse 4).

A Tale of Two Preachers:A Tale of Two Preachers:

ChuckChuck

WillWill

Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and JudgmentsJudgments upon Babylon: upon Babylon:

Woe to the Woe to the PlundererPlunderer (verses 6-8). (verses 6-8).

Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes andHabakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and JudgmentsJudgments upon Babylon:upon Babylon:

Woe to the seeker of Woe to the seeker of sordidsordid gain (verses gain (verses 9-11).9-11).

Bernie Madoff, Just One More Seeker of Sordid Gain

Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and JudgmentsJudgments upon Babylon: upon Babylon:

Woe to the Violent Woe to the Violent OppressorOppressor (verses (verses

12-14).12-14).

Recent Oppressive and Violent Recent Oppressive and Violent Kingdoms:Kingdoms: Joseph Stalin

Benito Mussolini

Adolf Hitler

Emperor Hirohito

Pol Pot

Saddam Hussein

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

Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and JudgmentsJudgments upon Babylon: upon Babylon:

Woe to the Woe to the DebaucherDebaucher (verses 15-17). (verses 15-17).

Habakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes andHabakkuk 2:6-20: Five Woes and JudgmentsJudgments upon Babylon:upon Babylon:

Woe to the Woe to the IdolaterIdolater (verses 18-20). (verses 18-20).

Isaiah 44:9-19Isaiah 44:9-19

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

The ISOT, The ISOT, California California Saga:Saga:

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

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

. . . to Singapore. . . to Singapore

Conclusion and Application:Conclusion and Application: Read Daniel 4:28-37Read Daniel 4:28-37

Read Daniel 5.Read Daniel 5.

Remember, God will ultimately make Remember, God will ultimately make every wrong right and provide justice every wrong right and provide justice for all, even if and when He is silent for for all, even if and when He is silent for the time being.the time being.

““Silence”Silence”by Joy Williamsby Joy Williams

Are you listening to anything that I sayAre you listening to anything that I say‘Cause I’ve been praying‘Cause I’ve been praying

How many prayers can I prayHow many prayers can I prayI’m still waitingI’m still waiting

Maybe You’ll show up todayMaybe You’ll show up today

I know You’re here, but I can’t feel YouI know You’re here, but I can’t feel YouAnd if You’re speaking, I can’t hear YouAnd if You’re speaking, I can’t hear You

How much longer will this lastHow much longer will this last

So okay, answer me with silenceSo okay, answer me with silenceIt’s okay if You don’t say a wordIt’s okay if You don’t say a word

You’re testing me to trust You’ll be You’re testing me to trust You’ll be faithful in this quietfaithful in this quiet

So okay, answer me . . . with silenceSo okay, answer me . . . with silence

““Silence”Silence”by Joy Williamsby Joy Williams

Why do I question Your intentions for meWhy do I question Your intentions for meWhen Your affection is a proven legacyWhen Your affection is a proven legacy

Oh Father, Father, turn my fears into Oh Father, Father, turn my fears into peacepeace

I know Your love will never leaveI know Your love will never leaveI know You want what’s best for meI know You want what’s best for me

““Silence”Silence”by Joy Williamsby Joy Williams

So okay, answer me with silenceSo okay, answer me with silenceIt’s okay if You don’t say a wordIt’s okay if You don’t say a word

‘Cause You’re testing me to trust You’ll ‘Cause You’re testing me to trust You’ll be faithful in this quietbe faithful in this quiet

So okay, answer me . . . with silenceSo okay, answer me . . . with silence

““Silence”Silence”by Joy Williamsby Joy Williams

You’re testing me to trust You’ll be You’re testing me to trust You’ll be faithful in this quietfaithful in this quiet

““Silence”Silence”by Joy Williamsby Joy Williams

Oh, it’s okay if You answer me with Oh, it’s okay if You answer me with silencesilence

And it’s okay if You don’t say a wordAnd it’s okay if You don’t say a wordYou’re testing me to trust You'll be You’re testing me to trust You'll be

faithful in this quietfaithful in this quietSo okay, answer me . . . with silenceSo okay, answer me . . . with silence

““Silence”Silence”by Joy Williamsby Joy Williams