Habakkuk: Why Would God Do That?

<p>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.</p><p>.</p><p>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.</p><p>.</p><p>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.</p><p>.</p><p>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.</p><p>.</p><p>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</p><p>.</p><p>• 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?</p><p>.</p><p>• Read Re