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 Israelconquering

them, killing many, and enslaving the rEsther 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 righta 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:

Habakkuk 3:16-Habakkuk 3:19; Psalm 13:5; Habakkuk 1:1-Habakkuk 1:6