Scratching the Surface of Habakkuk

Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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Scratching the Surface of Habakkuk

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    This world has so many predators.

    Habakkuk understood how we feel.

    It was about 600 years before Jesus showed up and Habakkuk looked around and saw a nation that was supposed to be dedicated to God that was corrupt and filled with all kinds of injustices: bad leaders, bad citizens, and bad behaviors.

    Habakkuk was bewildered and befuddled by what theology calls the theodicy or "justice of God" question (viz., "How can a just God allow so many injustices, insults to His holiness, and injuries to His people?"): "How long must I cry for help and You don't seem to listen or care?  There's so much violence and You don't save us from it.  Why do I have to see so much bad stuff?  Why do You tolerate so much evil?  It's getting worse all the time.  Justice is perverted!  There is no justice!"

    Sounds familiar.

    Making matters worse, God tells Habakkuk that it's gonna get worse: "I am rousing the Chaldeans...They are fierce and terrifying...They are determined to wipe you out."

    We can almost hear the prophet, "Sorry I asked."

    The nation is riddled by idolatry, injustice, and violence; and now they're about to be terrorized by the Chaldeans/Babylonians.

    In other words, Habakkuk saw how awful everything had become and complained about it to God; and then God tells him that it's gonna get worse!

    So Habakkuk shouts, "Why?  Why do You persecute people who are trying?  Why do You persecute people who are more than less on Your side?  What's up with that?"

    Anyone relating yet?

    Bullies.

    Bad economy.

    Bad guys at the borders.

    Bad behaviors.

    Bad leadership.

    Bad citizenship.

    Lots of baaaaaaad stuff!

    How can God let this happen?

    Why does God let this happen?

    Doesn't He care?

    I've felt that way.

    Have you?

    That's why we can relate so well to Habakkuk and why Habakkuk can relate so well to us; because he had the same questions over 2600 years ago.

    For all of us, he complained about it and demanded an answer from God: "I will wait and watch to see what He says about my complaint!"

    Gutsy.

    Honest.

    Not very religious.

    But very relational; as in child to parent.

    God answered: "The vision awaits it's time...Wait for it...It will come...In the meantime, the righteous will live by faith.'

    Notice God does not answer the why question: "Why do bad things happen to people who are trying to honor God?'

    Surely, He follows up with woes or watch outs to the bad guys who He promises will catch it sooner or later and definitely in the end.

    Again, He does not answer the why question.

    He tells us how to live in the meantime.

    Faith: "The righteous shall live by faith."

    Trust.

    Confidence.

    I'm not talking about two-feet-planted-firmly-in-the-air superstition or golly-gee-really-hope-He-comes-throughism.

    Absolutely not!

    I'm talking about the kind of faith that says with the Psalmist, "I was young.  Now I am older.  And in all of my time from younger to older, I have never seen God abandon His people.  He has always come through for us sooner or later, usually sooner than later, and definitely in the end."

    That's faith!

    Faith built on facts!

    We can trust God because God has proven He can be trusted!

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    ...to be continued...

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Blessings and Love!