#31 – A Prophet With Questions– September 26, 2024

Proverbs 25:2, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.”

The verse above is simply saying to us that there are many things God will not reveal to us. Besides, even if He did, would we really understand them?  His answers, in most cases, would be beyond our comprehension.  In Isaiah 55:9, God states, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”. But that doesn’t mean we should stop asking questions.  We are to search the scriptures for answers to questions on certain matters that we are asking God.

Most people, when praying, talk to God about healing, safety, finances, business opportunities, and friendship.  Don’t get me wrong…those are exactly what we should pray for, but God also wants us to “ask” him about things that are bothering us, or are heavy on our mind.

In the Old Testament there are 5 Major Prophets and 12 Minor Prophets.  Habakkuk is one of the Minor Prophets.  This is a little book that has only 3 chapters.  My commentary states that his Hebrew name may be associated with the word for “embraced”.  Therefore, his name may mean “Embraced by God”.  Habakkuk’s job was to warn Judah of their involvement in violence, lawlessness, and injustice he saw all around him.

In “Thru the Bible” by J. Vernon McGee he comments on Habakkuk in the following:

“He (Habakkuk) is disturbed about God’s seeming indifference to the iniquity of His own people.  Habakkuk asks God, ‘Why don’t You do something?” In our day a great many folk feel as Habakkuk did.  They are asking, ‘Why doesn’t God do something? Why doesn’t He move into the affairs of men and stop the violence and injustice and suffering?”

God answered the question for Habakkuk by informing him that He was preparing a nation, Babylon, to punish Judah and to take her into captivity – unless she changed her ways. Habakkuk goes on to ask God, ‘Why will You use Babylon – a nation that is definitely more wicked, more pagan, and more given over to idolatry than Your own people – to punish Judah?’ God reveals that He was not through with Babylon but would judge her also.  This is God’s method’.

In the theology section of my Bible, regarding the Book of Habakkuk, it states, “Nations are given to greed, power, idolatry, and to immorality.  People treat one another in an inhumane fashion.  Often it seems as if power and success come to those who break God’s laws and reject His legitimate claims on creation.  Yet according to Habakkuk, the Lord remains sovereign; He sits in His holy temple watching the earth.  He will eventually judge each person for his or her life.” 

Wow!  Does that sound a bit familiar to you? 

The one thing that sets Habakkuk apart from the other Minor Prophets is this…Habakkuk asked God questions.  Most prophets simply did what God told them to do without asking why.  If they wanted to, they usually just kept it to themselves.  Habakkuk bravely took the initiative to ask God certain questions about things he didn’t understand.  And guess what?  God answered him in almost every instance!

So why is it that we very rarely question God?  Are we afraid He’ll “zap” us into submission, or could it be that we’re just afraid of His answer?  Most of the time, we already know the answer and we just want confirmation. Sometimes it’s not something God wants us to know, right now.  And then, some of the answers we need are right where God put them, and He’s telling us to “search them out”.

Habakkuk taught us that it’s okay to ask God questions.  I’ve asked Him many times throughout my years.  I asked Him why my dad had to die when I was so young, but if it wasn’t him…who else would it be; my mom, one of my sisters?  I eventually got the answer…but it took years.  I’ve asked him why I wasn’t a stronger person physically and why I have medical problems.  I eventually got the answer to that also with scripture…”2 Corinthians 12:9, “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”.  I’m not afraid to ask Him anything, and the longer I live I realize that I’m not afraid of the answers either. Why doesn’t He just take me home now and out of this wretched world?  I don’t really need to know right now. I’ll get the answer to that when I meet Him face to face. 

We don’t always get the answers we want so don’t get discouraged; be patient.  Every answer we’re looking for can be found in the Word of God.  We just have to “search” for them.

Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” 

I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Nancy Stoppe                     

Stoppe123@comcast.net

 (Jenner Township Baptist Church, Boswell, PA 15531)

Blog – inspirationalinsights6.com

            (inspirational insights 6 .com)