I'm Waiting

In Habakkuk 1:1-4, he laments the wickedness of his generation. Habakkuk 1:5-11 records the Lord's response to Habakkuk. The Lord tells him that sin will be punished. Habakkuk doesn't receive the message well. He appears to feel confused, perhaps even betrayed. Habakkuk 1:12-2:2 reveals the prophet's response to the message of the Lord. He's left answering the question, "How good is God?" This passage encourages us wait upon the Lord, trusting in his goodness, even when we don't understand why he is doing what he is doing.

We have to start with the God we know (Hab. 1:12-13a). He is everlasting. This reference includes his faithfulness and his unchanging nature. He is holy, that is, far above his creation and morally perfect. He is sovereign over all things. He is a rock upon which we must build our lives. His eyes are pure so that he cannot approve of wickedness. This is the good God we know, but hardship often leaves us with questions.

Troubling circumstances often leave us with questions (Hab. 1:13b-17). In Habakkuk's day, the Babylonian invasion was the terrible circumstance. They were a cruel and greed people. The nations stretched out in front of Babylon like an ocean, and the peoples were fish swept away in their nets. At times, it appears that evil is permitted to steamroll over everything in its path.

Although he had questions, Habakkuk stood is ground (in the faith), even with his uncertainty. Abruptly, Habakkuk stops asking questions and braces himself for a response from heaven. He is confident that the Lord with speak. He is confident that God's mercy will at last win the day. He anchored himself in truth of God's character, and he refused to be moved.

Here are some principles drawn from this passage:

• To whom much is given, much is required.

• We struggle with the problem of pain (evil) because 

• We don't fully understand sin, and 

• We don't really grasp God's holiness.

• What we know now, that Habakkuk couldn't have known, is that God is bring about a restoration of all things through Jesus Christ.

• Why did God use the godless Babylonians to punish Israel?

• Israel's sin was even greater than Habakkuk had perceived, because Israel had greater knowledge of God, through his revelation, than did the Babylonians.

• He the Babylonians to arouse his compassion. There are several instances in Scripture, where God allowed his people to be oppress, and then rescued them when they cried out for help.

• He used the Babylonians to prevent the utter destruction of his people. By allowing the Babylonians to punish Israel, God instilled the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the remnant.

• Finally, the use of the godless Babylonians was meant to soften (humble) those God desired to be softened, and to harden those God desired to be hardened. Hardship will make you dependent upon God or defiant against him.