REDEEMER INTERNATIONAL
CONGREGATION
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Hagai & Habbakuk Series
May 21, 2022: Haggai 2
Preacher: Paul Mosley
We love to tell the story of the Exodus, of how God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt. We Christians are much more reticent to talk about how we often fall away due to our own sin, find ourselves in exile, and need to be restored. From the historical background of the restoration period, to application in our personal lives, we explore the story of how God can and will restore us to his presence if we just start by building the altar of prayer.
​
May 14, 2023: Haggai 1
Preacher: Fredrik Hector
This Sunday we studied the first chapter of a new minor prophet, Haggai, who was writing to the small, beleaguered community of Jerusalem. This dedicated group had returned from exile in Babylon, full of good intentions to rebuild the destroyed temple. But after laying the foundations, they stopped for 14 years and concentrated on building their own houses. It is easy to be critical of them: why couldn't they keep their priorities straight and put God first? But what happens to us, when we go whole-heartedly into mission and then face opposition and setbacks? Haggai invites all of us to "Give careful thought to your ways."
​
May 7, 2023: Habakkuk 3
Preacher: Rebecca Mosley
​
In the past two weeks, we have walked with Habakkuk as he questions God honestly about the wickedness surrounding him. Having heard God's response -- the wicked will be judged -- our prophet shifts genres and writes a psalm, a prayer for God's people in worship. Habakkuk celebrates God's past deliverance of his chosen people, but the vision of God's power leaves the prophet and his audience shaking in terror and praying: "Lord, in your anger, remember mercy." The situations that Habakkuk faces are uncomfortably similar to what we face in Ethiopia today. We have to ask ourselves, how do we respond when the fig tree doesn't blossom and there are no oxen in the barn, when big movements of nations and politics sweep over us? Can we honestly declare with the prophet, no matter our circumstances, "Yet I will rejoice in God my Savior?"
​
April 30, 2023: Habakkuk 3
Preacher: Samuel Tedder.
Habakkuk gives voice to the confusion and anger many of us feel when we look at the world around us: are we caught in an endless cycle of violence and vengeance? Does God have a purpose in all of the chaos we see? In Habakkuk 2 we are challenged to stand and wait. And we hear God's response: he sees the actions of the wicked, and he will judge them. Woe to those who engage in financial corruption, violence, injustice, deception and idolatry. By contrast, Habakkuk is granted a revelation: at the just the right time, God's justice will certainly come. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. This gives spring to our steps. Until then, here is the path of life: The righteous will live by faith.
​
April 23, 2023: Habakkuk 1
Preacher: Andrew Haverly
​
This morning, we left the Gospel of John and began an exploration of three Old Testament books: Habakkuk, Haggai and the Psalms. To help all of us locate the slim book of Habakkuk, we had a brief overview of the structure and contents of the Old Testament. Then we needed orientation about the context of Habakkuk: a brief religious revival under King Josiah was followed by one more downward slide into idolatry, injustice and violence. Habakkuk invites us to join him in crying out to God with honesty: "Why? How long?" We see that God is not afraid of direct questions, and we remember Jesus himself asking God "Why?" When God answers Habakkuk's complaint, assuring him that justice is on the way, Habakkuk complains again about God's methods. The book invites us into honest and open debate with God when we ourselves are faced with difficult circumstances we do not understand.
​