Chuck Smith addresses the profound questions of faith in his sermon 'BUT, WHY GOD?' using Jeremiah 12:1 as a foundation. He explores Jeremiah's struggle with God's justice, emphasizing that while Jeremiah acknowledges God's righteousness, he grapples with the prosperity of the wicked and the delay of divine judgment. Smith highlights that God's response to Jeremiah is not an explanation but a call to strengthen his faith, reminding us that understanding may not always be granted, but trust in God's plan is essential. Ultimately, the sermon encourages believers to brace themselves for challenges and to rely on God's past victories as assurance for future trials.

"BUT, WHY GOD?" Intro: The men of Anathoth have threatened to kill Jeremiah if he prophesies any more. God speaks to him of their pending judgment. I. JEREMIAH'S FOUNDATION - "RIGHTEOUS ART THOU..." A. He starts his complaint with this avowal. 1. Not accusing God. 2. Just questioning, seeking, understanding. 3. We often begin with accusations. a. God, that isn't fair. b. You have failed me, God. B. I know You are righteous, Lord. 1. The problem is my understanding. 2. My belief in Him as righteous creates the problem. a. If I did not believe in God, I would have no problem with this. b. If I did not believe that God was righteous, I would say, "Oh well, that's the way the cookie crumbles. God's done another one." 3. "I would like to talk to you about your judgments." II. JEREMIAH'S CONFUSION - "THE CESSPOOL OF WHY". A. Why do the wicked prosper? 1. Why is judgment so slow? 2. Why aren't they cut off immediately? 3. Because I am not long-suffering and patient, I wonder why God is. 4. Why does God allow them to prosper? B. Why are treacherous people happy? 1. Why does God allow them laughter? 2. Why do sinners have fun? 3. Why is sin pleasurable? 4. If God would just make sin miserable, then no one would sin. C. Jeremiah did not want their judgment later, he wanted it now. 1. "Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter." 2. How long? 3. Jeremiah wanted to see it now, for they said, you'll never see it. Ill. JEHOVAH'S ANSWER TO JEREMIAH. A. God sort of said, "Brace yourself, you ain't seen nothing yet, the worst is yet to come." 1. "If you have run with the footmen, and become weary, how are you going to race with horses?" 2. "If in the open country you have become tired, how are you going to run through the reeds of Jordan?" B. Note - He did not explain His actions to him. 1. God does not owe us any explanations. 2. For the most part, the "why's" of God always remain unexplained. 3. I want to understand God - He wants me to believe Him. 4. I want reasons - He wants faith. C. God does not put us against the horses until he has trained us with the footmen. D. The same God who brought me victory when I ran with the footmen will bring me victory when I run with the horses.