Habakkuk: Why Would God Do That?

One day, I was paging through my Bible and stopped on the book of Habakkuk.
I had never read this book in the minor prophets before, and I found it
fascinating. Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah who loved God. He would pray
often, and one day he was crying out to God about the evilness of the
people of Israel. Habakkuk knew that God was a holy God, hating evil, but
the people had turned their backs on Him, worshiped idols, and refused to
follow any of the commands God had set in place. Habakkuk couldn’t
understand why God was just sitting around, seemingly not doing anything.

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Then God responded, explaining that He would use the Babylonians to execute
judgment. Habakkuk was very confused by the way God intended to deal
with His people. You see, the Babylonians were a ruthless people,
conquering nations surrounding them and acting far more violently and
wickedly than Israel did.

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Why would God use those people to punish Israel? Habakkuk wanted to know!
In response, God assured him that, in His timing, the Babylonians would
themselves be punished.

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So here was the situation Habakkuk found himself in: very soon God would
raise up the army of Babylon to sweep over the nation of Israel—conquering
them, killing many, and enslaving the rest. Habakkuk was innocent of the
wrong that his fellow Israelites were being punished for, but he would have
to endure the same hardship as those who did wrong.

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Yet this prophet knew that God was God and understood His holiness and
judgment. No matter what happened in the future, Habakkuk knew he could
trust in the greatness and goodness of his almighty God and in His promise
that one day every wrong would be made right—a promise we now know finds
its “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus (Habakkuk 3:13; 2 Corinthians 1:20). • Doug
Velting

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• Have you ever been disappointed with the plans of God? Read Hebrews
4:14-16. Why are we free to bring all our feelings (including
disappointment and frustration) to God?

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• Read Revelation 21:1-5. As Christians, what hope do we have for the
future because of Jesus?

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But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Hab.3.16-Hab.3.19|Ps.13.5|Hab.1.1-Hab.1.6