Habakkuk | A Choice of Faith
How to use it: After watching/listening to this week’s message, from June 5, 2022, use the questions to go deeper into the message, with your group…or on your own. The questions will introduce you to the topic, reflect content from the sermon, go ‘Beyond the Message’, & get you thinking about practical applications for your life.
Habakkuk didn’t understand why God would use the wicked Babylonians to destroy his people. Is there something in your life you don’t understand? Explain.
When Habakkuk questioned God about evil and injustice this was God’s response: “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.” Hab 2:4
What did it mean for Habakkuk and his people to “live by faith?”
Describe a time in your life when the circumstances seemed hopeless but you “lived by faith.”
How did you see God’s goodness revealed through these circumstances?
How did it affect your relationship with God? Your relationship with others?
God went on to say: “What have you gained by worshiping all your man-made idols? How foolish to trust in something made by your own hands! What fools you are to believe such lies! How terrible it will be for you who beg lifeless wooden idols to save you. You ask speechless stone images to tell you what to do. Can an idol speak for God? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside. But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” Hab 2:18-20
An idol: an image or other material object representing a deity other than God; a false conception or notion; fallacy. Many Jews were trusting idols to rescue them. What kind of “idols” do many people look to for their rescue today?
Describe areas in your life where you are tempted to trust in “idols” rather than God?
How will you “live by faith” in those areas of your life? How can your group help you?
Habakkuk stopped to listen, write, and wait on God. In doing so, he was placing his trust in God’s character & promises rather than the situations he was experiencing. As you consider the example of Habakkuk, do you sense God asking you to listen, write, and/ or wait on Him in an area of your life?
Pray together in your own words and ask God for the following:
Eyes to see His goodness in every area of your life
Wisdom to identify and reject any “idols” you may be putting your trust in today
Strength to “live by faith” and trust Him even when things look hopeless