My Bible’s heading
calls this passage the Prophet’s Question. Sure Habakkuk had his
questions, tough questions. The prophet saw injustice, violence, and evil
in his own country. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not
hear? (1:2) Did God tell him to talk to someone else? No.
God never turns away the sincere heart. Tough questions don’t stump God.
He invites our probing, and that is what Habakkuk did. He probed. As
well as speaking for God as a prophet, he spoke to God. He dared to ask
his own troubling questions.
Were all his questions answered? I don’t know. I do know, however,
that God never turns away the honest seeker. Go to God with your
questions. You may not find all the answers, but in finding God, you know
the one who does.
To just turn on the TV lately and see all the incomprehensible tragedies on the
news, we could all scream to God with questions such as seen in these verses.
We need to believe with certainty that God is in control. It is not our
power and strength that will bring change. Look among the nations
and watch – be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days
which you would not believe, though it were told (1:5). On the
surface, God’s power is not always visible, but the person of faith knows God is
behind it all.
Lord, I pray that we
can live with a firm faith in you. Although we see injustice in our world
each day, may we be affirmed that you are in control. May your glory fill
the whole earth. And may be find hope and joy through our faith in you,
regardless of the circumstances. Amen.