Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 Second Issue
Habakkuk has a second issue he wants to address with God. Habakkuk accepts God’s answer but is worried that there will be no end for the invaders.
When Habakkuk complained about the sin he saw in Judah, God told him that He was handling it. He was raising up the Babylonian empire to judge Judah. It would end in their captivity. Habakkuk is surprised by God’s plan. And he addresses his concerns.
Habakkuk recognized, first of all, that ALL God’s plans are good. God does NOT ‘intend evil’ in His judgments; only justice. Even when death is on the doorstep for Judah, Habakkuk KNOWS that God’s ways are higher than his own.
But Habakkuk doesn’t understand how God will allow this ‘man’, the ruler of such a vicious nation, to thrive unfettered. Is the whole world to be his ‘hunting ground’ with no recourse? If God allows him this judgment with Judah, won’t he continue until EVERYTHING is under his boot? And, WHY would God use such an unrighteous nation against His own people?
Habakkuk KNOWS that something has to give. He cannot see God ignoring Judah’s sins any longer. HE, himself, can’t stand looking at Judah’s sins either. But THIS?!
Even with all this conflict racing around in Habakkuk’s heart, he says he will wait and see exactly what God will do. “I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint” (verse 2:1). Was Habakkuk wondering if he was interpreting God’s words incorrectly? Was he thinking that he heard wrong?
This reminds me of a joke.
Do you know how to ensure you will NEVER be lost in the woods?
Take a deck of cards with you and whenever you feel like you are lost, sit down and start playing a game of Solitaire. Someone will be along shortly to tell you what goes where.
I see Habakkuk ‘looking over God’s shoulder’ and thinking “That’s not the way I would do it!” I have found that God OFTEN does things in a way I wouldn’t expect, or have chosen if given that choice. And like Habakkuk, I often have to sit down and watch, because throwing my ‘two cents’ in only makes things worse.
Father God, I KNOW that YOU KNOW what You are doing from the very beginning until the final end. I trust You. And, truthfully, that’s the MOST and BEST I can do. I put my WHOLE LIFE in Your hands; KNOWING that You know what You are doing. I’m ‘standing on my watchpost’ and waiting to see what You will do. And I’m praying through Your Holy Spirit for direction. THIS is the foundation for You working things out in my life; my willingness to listen and Your Spirit’s ability to direct my paths. AND the paths of ANYONE You choose as it brings about YOUR perfect plans.
