Sermons

When the phrase, ‘What was that’ is used it might be en exclamation of disbelief, it might be said in confusion or uncertainty or simply a genuine question. We seek to consider the year 2020 and what was that? what has just happened? What is it that we have seen and experienced here in Australia and around the world? For some people, they might question where God has been this year, what has been doing, has he been doing anything? Does God care or is he not able to help and save? Truly we do not know and so must trust that God is sovereign, he is loving, he is all-wise and powerful to bring all things to his desired end.

Looking at the final chapter of Habakkuk, we find a very different man from the one we met at the beginning. A man complaining to God, wondering why God wouldn’t answer his prayers for the things he wanted God to do; a man who then wonders whether God really cares about his people and who is maybe even acting unjustly towards them. We come to Habakkuk chapter 3 and find at first a man fearful, terrified of what God will do in sending the Babylonians. But as he finishes he bursts out with the most beautiful statement of faith in God. Knowing that God would bring against him and the people of Judah, Habkkauk will live by faith and will rejoice! What incredible faith! How did this change happen? What can we learn from the rest of the book that might show us and lead us to be people like Habakkuk, who live by faith, trusting God in any and every situation of life?

Looking around him, Habakkuk is led to cry out to God asking, “What is going on?” He sees the lives of the people of God walking in idolatry and far from him. Then when God says what he is going to do about it, Habakkuk has occasion to ask again, “What is going on?” The challenge is given to us to trust God. When we do not understand, when we cannot see the bigger picture of what God is doing in our world and in our own lives, will we still trust him? Do we believe he is on control? Do we believe he is working all things to his glorious end? Do we trust that he is good? DO we trust that he cares for us?