He's Got This

“Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”  (Habakkuk 1:5)

In a recent sit-down with my Bible, it occurred to me that there are numerous books of the Bible that I tend to routinely ignore.  I pour over the Gospels, Paul’s letters, and numerous gems in the Old Testament like Daniel, Isaiah, and Psalms.  But when it comes to books like Habakkuk, I tend to just skim right on by.  Can you relate?  How easily I forget that there’s a reason all the books of the Bible exist: it’s because God thinks they have some important things to say.  Point taken.

In its three short chapters, Habakkuk beautifully addresses one of the most common dilemmas of human existence: the crushing injustice in our world and our perception of God’s unwillingness or reluctance to intervene in a timely fashion.  In speaking of the corruption in Babylon, Habakkuk summarizes the dilemma nicely in his dialog with God:  “How long, O Lord, must I call for your help, but you do not listen?  Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?  Why do you tolerate wrong?  Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.  Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.  The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted” (1:1-4).  I don’t know about you, but I think Habakkuk and I would have been good friends.  His words have flooded my heart and crossed my lips more times than I’d care to admit.  Have they yours?

The book of Habakkuk is less about God exercising His perfect timing and will, although His answer to Habakkuk does address it (see the verse cited at the beginning of this post).  The book is more about we the faithful resting in the knowledge that God has it under control.  He absolutely does see the injustice around us, and He absolutely does have a plan to right the wrongs.  It is up to us to trust that God knows what He’s doing, even if we don’t see His justice exercised before our own eyes as quickly as we’d like.  It could be that the enemy is allowed to swell in power and pride so that his eventual fall will be harder and more complete than it would otherwise.  In the meantime, our patience and trust in God strengthens our faith and solidifies our hope.  As Habakkuk concludes, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines…yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (3:17-18).

All too often, our world is cruel and full of violence and corruption.  True faith and abiding joy is realized when we trust God to address the injustice in His perfect way, in His perfect time.  It’s a good reminder today and always.

And to think how many times I've skipped past Habakkuk…