Habakkuk: When God Seems Unfair
What do you do when you see injustice? How do you explain bad things happening to good people? Crime. AIDS. Terminally-ill children. How could God allow things to be so unfair?
We’ll tackle these tough issues in our three-part study on Habakkuk.
Audio: Listen to “When God Seems Unfair”
LifeGroup Q’s:
Objective: To trust God with our frustrations, while also trusting His timing and
His purposes.
Read Hab 1:2-4
- How would you describe Habakkuk’s mood in this passage? What seems to be his driving passion here?
- Describe a time when you’ve had similar feelings. In those moments, did you have this kind of frank and raw conversation with God? Why or why not?
Pause and read God’s response to Habakkuk’s questions: Hab 1:6
Pause and read Habakkuk’s reaction: Hab 1:12-13
- Why do you think Habakkuk felt so shocked by God’s response?
- When and where do you see injustices like these today?
- Describe a time when you felt a sense of “injustice” similar to Habakkuk’s.
Pause and read Habakkuk’s next words: Hab 2:1
- How hard do you think it must have been for Habakkuk to wait on God’s timing?
- In your past experience, how has waiting on God’s timing affected your attitudes toward God and the circumstances?
- Is there some area of your life where you are struggling to wait on God’s timing, frustrated by His answers or confused by apparent injustice?
Now take the next few minutes to have an honest personal conversation with God about your struggles, remember…God has broad shoulders and a loving spirit. He is interested in what you have to say! (Pray silently for a few minutes, then pray together as a group)
Audio: Listen to “When God Seems Too Slow”
LifeGroup Q’s:
Objective: To see God’s goodness in the past, leave behind any idols we may
be putting our faith in and trust God’s goodness even when circumstances
seem hopeless.
When Habakkuk questioned God about evil and injustice this was God’s
response: read, Hab 2:4
• What did it mean for Habakkuk and his people to “live by faith?”
• Describe a time in your life when the circumstances seemed hopeless but
you “lived by faith.”
• How did you see God’s goodness revealed through these circumstances?
• How did it affect your relationship with God? Your relationship with others?
Read Habakkuk 2:18-20
i•dol: an image or other material object representing a deity other than God; a
false conception or notion; fallacy.
• Many Jews were trusting idols to rescue them. What kind of ”idols” do
many people look to for their rescue today?
• Describe areas in your life where you are temped to trust in “idols” rather
than God?
• How will you “live by faith” in those areas of your life? How can your group
help you?
Pray together in your own words and ask God for the following:
• Eyes to see His goodness in every area of your life
• Wisdom to identify and reject any “idols” you may be putting your trust in
today
• Strength to “live by faith” and trust Him even when things look hopeless.
For Further Study
Deuteronomy 16:21-17:20 What was Israel commanded not to set up?
(16:21-22) What kind of sacrifice is detestable to the Lord? (17:1) What was to
be done if someone was suspected of worshiping other gods? (17:2-4) How
was the punishment for idol worship to be handled? (17:5) What implications
do these verses have for our attitude toward justice and fairness?
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Why did Paul refer to Israel’s history? (10:1) How do
the Israelites serve as examples to us? (10:1-6) Why did God record the
experiences of the Israelites? (10:6, 11) Why is it important that all the
temptations Christians face are common to everyone? (10:13) How is God
faithful? (10:13).
Audio: Listen to “When God Takes the Long View”
LifeGroup Q’s:
Objective: “I am His and He is mine” – should be enough. The challenge before Habbakak and us is to trust God, and serve God, and worship God no matter what!
“I have heard all about you, LORD, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done. Hab 3:1-2 (NLT)
1. What kind of relationship do you think Habakkuk had with God?
2. Do you think this gave him hope for the future? Why or why not?
Looking at the physical world around him, Habakkuk said:
“His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is!” Hab 3:3 (NLT)
Awe (n.): A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, and wonder inspired by authority,
great beauty, or might.
3. Describe a time when, like Habakkuk, you were “awed” by God’s creation.
4. Name something that stands out to you from Scripture that makes you in awe of God.
5. Describe something that God has done in your lifetime that makes you in awe of God.
6. How does remembering and experiencing effect your relationship with God?
In the face of an apparently hopeless situation, Habakkuk still had this to say about God:
“…yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation. The
Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and
bring me safely over the mountains.” Hab 3:18-19 (NLT)
7. Has there been a time in your life when God gave you joy even though your circumstances appeared hopeless?
8. Habakkuk moved from hopelessness to joy over the 3 chapters of this book.
In what areas of your life would you like God to take you from hopelessness to joy?
9. We were asked to respond to the sermon on Sunday by kneeling before God. Describe how that went for you. Did you trust God, did you struggle, did you feel more fear or faith?
Take some time to pray:
- Thank God for the amazing things you’ve seen Him do and heard about from others
- Tell Him about your “awe” of Him
- Ask Him bring the joy of your relationship with Him to the places in your life that seem hopeless.
For Further Study
Ecclesiastes 5:1-20:
What best helps you worship God? How should a person go to the house of God? (5:1)
How did Solomon encourage us to conduct ourselves in the house of God? (5:2-3) Why
should we stand in awe of God? (5:7) Why is it important to approach God with the right attitude? What does it mean to stand in awe of God?
1 Chronicles 16:7-43:
When was the last time you felt overwhelmed with thankfulness or gratitude?
According to David, why should we give thanks to the Lord? (16:8)
What should people tell others about God? (16:9)
What attitude should a person have toward God? (16:10-12)
What had God done for Israel? (16:15-22) How did David express his thanks to God?
How should we express our thanks and appreciation to God? For what specific reasons should we praise the Lord?
How can praising the Lord change our attitude and outlook on life?
What are some of the reasons you have to be thankful to God?
I think the biggest problem with how we view God’s timing or plan etc. is that we are always under the assumption that our perspective is correct. Think about how many times you (or I) have made a judgment as to how wrong someone or something is and someone with a completely different point of view thinks that we are wrong instead. Once we say things like “That’s not fair.” or “God isn’t doing what He’s supposed to.” we place ourselves in the dangerous position of posing as God or at least His adviser.
In Luke 24, Jesus met up with two disciples who were under the impression that the crucifixion was just a big accidental tragedy and should never have happened. Jesus proceeded to set them straight in their thinking about the events that had occurred.
“And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
The bottom line is this. If you think God is wrong, He’s not. If you think you’re right, you’re not. God has yet to make a mistake and if we are absolutely honest with ourselves we usually create disasters when left to our own ways.
Isaiah 55:7-9
Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I was encouraged by Vicky’s testimony. It brought back memories of how God has been faithful for me and my family. I was in church the other day and realized we will be surrounded by the love of God for all eternity. The presence and love of God forever is an awesome thought. Why wouldn’t He enjoy us experiencing it now?
WE ARE BLESSED
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