God’s “Pro Tip”
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. Last time, we looked at how Habakkuk dealt with his frustration and shock over God’s plan.
This was God’s reply:
Habakkuk 2:2-4
The Lord answered me:
Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it.
For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.
Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity.
But the righteous one will live by his faith.
While the Babylonian oppressors are advancing to plunder and punish Judah, God is not blind to their inflated ego and lack of integrity. In the following verses, God lays out five “Woes” to the Babylonians – five ways that their own transgressions will be their undoing.
For now, we need to stop here and recognize a significant truth in God’s reply. A “Pro Tip” is a useful piece of advice offered up by someone in the know. This is the “Pro Tip” God shares with Habakkuk:
But the righteous one will live by his faith.
Although Habakkuk protested at portion of the plan God revealed to him, God has set the course for history to follow. However, He has not abandoned the Jews. Their path through these upcoming troubled times will be to live by faith.
To live by faith isn’t a simple phrase to make us feel warm and fuzzy when things get hard so we can go blindly ahead, telling ourselves everything will be ok. Instead, living by faith is a confident trust in God to do what He has promised to do, despite the circumstances that come our way. And if we haven’t seen God fulfill a particular promise yet, then living by faith is trusting His character that He will come through at a future moment in time.
This quote from God to Habakkuk echoes throughout the New Testament, as well. Three times, it is quoted (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38). All of the New Testament references are to trusting God to fulfill His promises when we are incapable of rescuing ourselves from our present circumstances. The author of Hebrews continues in chapter 11, listing out Old Testament heroes who lived in difficult times but overcame by living a by faith lifestyle. They were not defeated by hardship or difficulty because they trusted God to do what He said He would do.
So, even though Habakkuk and the nation of Judah was staring down the barrel of circumstances they did not want, God still shows them the way to live. As evidence by the New Testament authors’ use of Habakkuk 2:4, that option is available to us, as well.
Are you, right now, living by faith?
Keep Pressing,
Ken