Perplexed at God’s answer – Perplexed at God’s answer – Hab.1:12-17Hab.1:12-17

What does faith look like in the What does faith look like in the Bible?Bible?

- In turmoil as well as serene- In turmoil as well as serene - Perplexed as well as assured- Perplexed as well as assured - Complaining as well as thanksgiving- Complaining as well as thanksgiving - Questions as well as certainties- Questions as well as certaintiesAbraham, Gideon, Job, Psalmists, Isaiah, Abraham, Gideon, Job, Psalmists, Isaiah,

Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Paul and even JesusJeremiah, Habakkuk, Paul and even Jesus

1. Confidence in God - v.121. Confidence in God - v.12

a. The eternal God – Rock – Ps.46:1-3a. The eternal God – Rock – Ps.46:1-3 b. The covenant God – LORD/Yahwehb. The covenant God – LORD/Yahweh c. The sovereign God – Pr.21:1c. The sovereign God – Pr.21:1

2. Questioning God – v.13-172. Questioning God – v.13-17

Habakkuk is appalled:-Habakkuk is appalled:- a. God is associated with evila. God is associated with evil b. The intense evil of the Babyloniansb. The intense evil of the Babylonians - more evil than Judah – v.13- more evil than Judah – v.13 - greedy & cruel – v.14,15- greedy & cruel – v.14,15 - proud & boastful – v.16- proud & boastful – v.16They have dehumanized peopleThey have dehumanized people

3. The Cross – God’s character & 3. The Cross – God’s character & evilevil

a. God’s charactera. God’s character - his unchanging plan – 1Pet.1:18-20- his unchanging plan – 1Pet.1:18-20 - commitment to his people – Rom.8:32- commitment to his people – Rom.8:32 - sovereignty of his plan – Acts 4:27,28- sovereignty of his plan – Acts 4:27,28 b. God “embracing” evilb. God “embracing” evil - enduring crucifixion- enduring crucifixion - the Holy One “made sin” – 2Cor.5:21- the Holy One “made sin” – 2Cor.5:21 - bearing God’s judgment on evil- bearing God’s judgment on evil

4. Real, but perplexed faith4. Real, but perplexed faith

a. Begin the journey of faitha. Begin the journey of faith b. Remind yourself of rock-solid certaintiesb. Remind yourself of rock-solid certainties c. Be real & honest – don’t pretendc. Be real & honest – don’t pretendSimplistic faith – A+B=C (my solution)Simplistic faith – A+B=C (my solution)Simple faith – A+B=D (God’s solution)Simple faith – A+B=D (God’s solution)Pretending is foolish, destructive & drainingPretending is foolish, destructive & draining