We claim we want to know, but…

In this series, we’re walking with a prophet that is little-known to most of us modern-day Christians.  Habakkuk lived in the last days of the southern kingdom of Judah, just before the Babylonians invaded and destroyed Jerusalem.  However, where the writings of most other Old Testament prophets were about God’s message to the people, what we find unique about the book of Habakkuk is that the prophet records his conversation with God on behalf of the people.

Initially, we heard Habakkuk confront God about the selfish, even down-right evil, actions his fellow countrymen were committing.  He was struggling to understand why God hadn’t stepped in to address the troubles in Judah.  Then, we read God’s response – He is planning on punishing/correcting Judah by allowing the Chaldeans (aka the Babylonians) to invade Judah.  Next, we looked at how Habakkuk dealt with his frustration and shock over God’s plan.  And after that, we learned how those who were living according to God’s design would survive the Chaldean invasion.  Last time, we saw the Woes proclaimed on the Chaldeans because of their evil choices.

By now, Habakkuk is feeling a bit overwhelmed.  He started the conversation with God, asking what he believed to be very legitimate questions.  These were issues that were major troubles of his day.  Everywhere he looked, the Jewish people were committing violence against one another, there was rampant injustice, and wicked people were overrunning his country with no end in sight…but Habakkuk was focused on the moment of life he was living in, he did not consider that God’s perspective and plan was operating on a global-sized, historical scale. 

God’s ways and plans were too great for Habakkuk.  When God clued him into His plan, Habakkuk’s response shows us it was more than he could handle:

Habakkuk 3:2
Lord, I have heard the report about You;
Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds.
Revive Your work in these years;
make it known in these years.
In Your wrath remember mercy!

As Habakkuk witnessed the future where the Chaldeans would be punished by God’s wrath for the evil they committed, his only response was to ask God to remember His mercy for his people.  Habakkuk then composes a prayer which recounts the way God has moved historically for the nation and also how the earth still trembles at God’s power.  You can read it in its entirety in Habakkuk 3:3-15, but here are some of the highlights:

Habakkuk 3:6, 10-13
He stands and shakes the earth;
He looks and startles the nations.
The age-old mountains break apart;
the ancient hills sink down.
His pathways are ancient.

The mountains see You and shudder;
a downpour of water sweeps by.
The deep roars with its voice
and lifts its waves high.

Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence,
at the flash of Your flying arrows,
at the brightness of Your shining spear.

You march across the earth with indignation;
You trample down the nations in wrath.
You come out to save Your people,
to save Your anointed.

This recorded back-and-forth conversation with God throughout the book has left Habakkuk worn out.  The only thing he has left in him is to marvel at what God has both allowed and designed in the same historical moments. 

Habakkuk thought he wanted to know what God was up to.  He expected, based on his undesired circumstances, that he had a strong complaint against what God was seemingly not bothered with.  But after seeing only a part of God’s master plan, Habakkuk realized that he was the one who had it all wrong.

We do the same thing, don’t we?  We look at the headlines full of greed, violence, and all sorts of evil – and wonder “Where is God in all this?  Why would He tolerate the oppression, injustice, and wickedness?”

Perhaps our perspective is as skewed as Habakkuk’s was.  God promises to take care of evil in due time (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19), but He doesn’t promise heavenly-perfect lives right now, either.

I think Monsabre’s perspective on this tension is the best one to take:
“If God would concede me His omnipotence for 24 hours, you would see how many changes I would make in the world. But if He gave me His wisdom too, I would leave things as they are.”

Keep Pressing,
Ken