Complaining to God

How to Complain to God!

1. Do you ever complain to your family? What good does it usually do?

Have you ever noticed how people like to complain to their family even when they would never dream of saying anything negative to anyone else? We feel that our family will understand and they are close enough to us that we are not afraid to reveal our true feelings. Of course it seldom does any good, but sometimes we get a sympathetic ear. So if we feel comfortable complaining to our family, why don’t we feel comfortable complaining to God? It’s not like he doesn’t already know what we’re thinking. Habakkuk complained to God. If we have a complaint, maybe we should also feel free enough to voice it to the one who cares about us more than anyone else.

2. Read the 3 chapters of Habakkuk. Write here some key or favorite verses from this short book.

Here are some key or favorite verses I found. 1:2 – "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save?" 1:5 – "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." 2:1 – "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint." 2:4b – "...but the righteous will live by his faith." 2:20 – "But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." 3:2 – "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." 3:17-18 – "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." 3:19 – "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

3. Describe a time when you felt like complaining to God. If you have complained to God, what did you complain about? What would cause you to feel like complaining to God?

Usually we feel like complaining to God when things aren’t going the way we think they should. This was the case in Habakkuk’s two complaints. Sometimes it’s because of a perceived injustice or a supposed wrong which was done to us or our family. Other times it’s because of troubles or problems we are facing. Whatever might make you feel like complaining, God will not condemn you when you complain to him. He understands your concern and is ready to listen with a sympathetic ear and calm your spirit.

Doan relates how a Christian woman was complaining to a friend about the difficulties of life and the circumstances that buffeted her. In anger she said, "Oh, I would to God that I had never been made!" Her friend replied, "You are not yet made; you are only being made, and you are quarreling with God’s processes."

4. Make your own simple outline of the book of Habakkuk. What is your overall impression of this book?

Here is my outline for Habakkuk.

1:1-11 first complaint and answer

1:12-2:20 second complaint and answer

3:1-12 Habakkuk’s acceptance of God’s judgement on Israel

3:13-19 Faith replaces complaining

After reading through the book of Habakkuk, we discover that a lot of what he wrote could be the headlines in today’s newspapers – iniquity, injustice, immorality, lawlessness. These things disturbed Habakkuk just as today’s moral confusion disturbs us.

5. From reading Habakkuk, what does it seem has been happening in Israel? How do doubts affect your faith?

Habakkuk was probably written in the 600’s b.c. This was a time of apostasy but before the conquering of Judah by Babylon. Habakkuk expresses regret over the iniquity of Judah but is also aware of the wickedness of Babylonia so one of the kings after Josiah would fit this timeframe.

When we see iniquity all around us it can very discouraging to our faith. We may even wonder where God is in all the violence, immorality, and corruption in our own society. This is probably how Habakkuk felt. Sometimes when we are faced with doubts our faith can waver. We can wonder if God is really in control, or we might wonder if God has abandoned us. Habakkuk went to God for his answers. Let us learn to do the same thing.

6. What verses would fit in the following categories: 1-Habakkuk’s first complaint, 2-God’s answer, 3-Habakkuk’s second complaint, 4-God’s answer, 5-Habakkuk’s response to God’s second answer.

In this book we see Habakkuk having a conversation with God. Habakkuk complains and then God graciously answers – not just once, but twice. Habakkuk’s first complaint is made in 1:1-4, then God answers in 1:5-11. Habakkuk’s second complaint is in 1:12-2:1, then God answers in 2:2-20. Finally, in chapter 3 we see Habakkuk accepting God’s answers in faith.

We see a progression of frustration in the first two chapters. And then upon thinking about God’s reply, we see a progression of growing faith in chapter 3.

7. How would you describes the strengths of Habakkuk? What about him do you find appealing? What about him do you identify with?

Habakkuk seems like a righteous person who is offended by sin. He wants to stand up for what is right. He wishes his nation would follow God’s commands and obey the scriptures. He specifically mentions how the law is paralyzed in 1:4 and reveals an intimate understanding of God’s nature in 1:12. He knows that such unrighteousness must lead to God’s punishment if God is just. His sense of justice overrides any concern he may have for the well-being of Israel. He knows they deserve to be punished for their rebellion and disobedience. Even though he may have doubts, he has been serving God long enough to know that he must go to God for the answers.

McGee remarks, "This little book opens in gloom and closes in glory. It begins with a question mark and closes with an exclamation point. Habakkuk is a big WHY? Why God permits evil is a question that every thoughtful mind has faced. I think that this book is the answer to that question."

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