Can we really ask – God where are you?

Can we really ask - God where are you? Not only can we ask, someone already did. Someone from a long time ago. We even have God's answer.

Can we really ask - God where are you? is article #1 in the series: God where are you. Click button to view titles for the entire series

I'm sure lots of Christians, let alone people in general, would like to ask this question: God where are you?

I've asked. And not always so politely.

And whether we believe it or not, there's nothing wrong with asking.

What could possibly be wrong with actually asking? It's not like God doesn't already know the questions in our minds before we ever put them into words. He knows it's in our minds before we even fully form the thought!

So ask! Ask away.

When we ask, God where are you, we aren't the first.

The Old Testament gives us an example of one person who asked. It's in the Old Testament, so many people might not have read it. It's a small book, only three chapters. But still, many probably haven't read it.

It's written by one of the so-called minor prophets. Not by one of the famous ones. It's not written by one of the more famous people at all. Unless you've read it, you may not even know it exists.

However, since I've asked the question so often, and since I have read it, I can say it's one of my favorite OT books.

How might we ask the question today?

Before we get into the text of the Old Testament book, or even identify the author, let's see how it might look using today's English. Some people think the Bible's not relevant today. Do the things below look relevant?

“How long must I keep telling you that things are terrible?
 Why don’t you save us?
 Why do you make me watch while people treat others so unfairly?
 Why do you put up with the wrong things they are doing?
 I have to look at death.
 People are harming others.
 They are arguing and fighting all the time.
 The law can’t do what it’s supposed to do.
 Fairness never comes out on top.
 Sinful people surround those who do what is right.
 So people are never treated fairly.”

That sounds pretty relevant. It’s a comment anyone could make after watching just a few minutes of the evening news. And it is asking our question today - God where are you?

Or, Google a few of these and see what you get.

Like -

• “call for help” will return things like domestic violence, agencies for people in need, police, fire, Etc.
• “Why don’t you listen” returns many links to songs – so this would seem to be a popular topic today.
• “Things are terrible” returns over 1.5 Million links!

Feel free to look up others – but there’s no doubting that the questions are quite relevant today.

Who is the minor prophet whose words gave us the translation above about the state of the world he lived in?

The thing is, those lines above, in orange text, were written about 2,700 years ago! Yes – about 700 BC.
They are from Habakkuk, considered a “minor” prophet (because his book is short - only three chapters), who gets to do something pretty major – talk to God and get an answer! Ask Him - God where are you?

The lines above are from the NIRV, which is more in line with styles of writing/speaking today. I normally prefer to use the NIV which is:

Habakkuk

Hab 1:1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet received.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

Hab 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?

Hab 1:3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.