Judgment Begins with God's Family

"Look at the nation 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" (Hab. 1:5, NIV).

In grace, the Lord replied to Habakkuk's questions, but what he says doesn't comfort. Habakkuk wanted to know when God would judge the violent, unjust multitude overran the righteous. Judah was in a state of spiritual apostasy. They had abandoned true worship of the Lord, yet they felt no shame. Although they pursued unrighteousness, they thought their pseudo-worship in the temple secured their safety.

God's solution for the apostasy was to send swift and terrible judgment. God hates sin. He particularly hates sin among his people. As Peter reminds us,

For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (1 Pet. 4:17-18, NIV).

Sin will not go unpunished. In Habakkuk's day, judgment was going to come in the form of the Babylonian army. The hardship would punish the rebellious for their rebellion, and purge the wicked from the Land. Chastisement still falls on the disobedient. God will not permit his people to linger in sin.

Habakkuk is told what is going to happen so that he can warn his generation. Sounding the warning gives people the opportunity to repent and seek mercy. To the hardened heart, warnings never seem serious.  But some hear the warning and turn in repentance to the Lord.

Here are somethings that we can glean from Habakkuk 1:5-11:

• God doesn't (usually) answer "Why?" questions.
• God is at work around us.
• God's work is often incomprehensible.
• God is sovereign over the nations.
• Life may get worse before it gets better.
• The wrath of God is swift and terrible.
• Our enemies are (often) just like us.