Habakkuk 01: Where Are You God? Follow Up Questions

God, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen? How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!” before you come to the rescue? Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day?

Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place.

Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head. Hab 1:2-4 (Message)

Objective: 
To trust God with our frustrations, while also trusting His timing and His purposes.


• [Suggested Time 3 min.] How would you describe Habakkuk’s mood in this passage? What seems to be his driving passion here?


• [Suggested Time 5 min.] 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:

I am raising up the Babylonians to be a new power on the world scene. They are a cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it. Hab 1:6 (NLT)

Pause and read Habakkuk’s reaction:

God, you chose Babylonians for your judgment work? ...You gave them the job of discipline? But you can’t be serious! You can’t condone evil! So why don’t you do something about this? Why are you silent now?

Hab 1:12-13 (Message)

• [Suggested Time 3 min.] Why do you think Habakkuk felt so shocked by God’s response?

• [Suggested Time 3 min.] When and where do you see injustices like these today?

• [Suggested Time 5 min.] Describe a time when you felt a sense of “injustice” similar to Habakkuk’s.


Pause and read Habakkuk’s next words:I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint. Hab 2:1 (NLT)

• [Suggested Time 3 min.] How hard do you think it must have been for Ha- bakkuk to wait on God’s timing?

• [Suggested Time 5 min.] In your past experience, how has waiting on God’s timing affected your attitudes toward God and the circumstances?

• [Suggested Time 5 min.] 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?

• [Suggested Time 5 min.] 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! 

For Further Study

Habakkuk 1: If you could talk with one prominent person, whom would you choose and what would you discuss? What did Habakkuk receive? (1:1) About what was the prophet distressed? (1:2-4) How did God answer Habakkuk's complaint? (1:5-11) Why was the prophet perplexed and bewildered? (1:12-17)

When people suffer because of violence and injustice,
how do you feel? God used the ungodly Babylonians to punish Israel. How does God speak to Christians through the actions of pagans nowadays?
When have you been perplexed about why God allowed something to happen?

When can you take time this week to be open and honest with the Lord about some of your deepest concerns or frustrations? 


g-ram