Perhaps my favorite Old Testament prophet is Habakkuk. The book of his prophecy is only three chapters long. It begins with a question rather than his pedigree. Most of the Old Testament prophets at least tell you who they are or list the kings that are on the thrones while they are prophesying. Habakkuk does none of that. He just starts asking God questions, such as “how long,” and “why do You ….”
When God responds to his initial questions, Habakkuk asks even more. He wanted to reconcile what he sees going on around him with the goodness of God. Habakkuk saw the approach of the most fearsome nation on earth at that time, and he feared Israel was next to fall to the Babylonians. He also saw his own nation sinking further into sin and no one seemed willing to stop their descent.
Habakkuk wanted to know why God would use a nation far more sinful than Israel to chastise Israel. He had so many questions … maybe we have some of the same?
God does not exactly answer Habakkuk’s questions. What He does do is reveal himself to the prophet. At the beginning of Chapter 3, Habakkuk writes of the splendor and the power of His God.
“Lord, I have heard the report about You; Lord, I stand in awe of Your deeds…. God comes from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran…. His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise. His brilliance is like light…. He stands and shakes the earth; He looks and startles the nations.” [3:2-6a HCSB]
It is after the revelation of God’s splendor and might that Habakkuk moves from “Why” and “How long …” to “No matter what,” or in his words: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” [3:17-18 HCSB]
We may never get our “Why” or “How long …” questions answered. But when God reveals Himself to us, in His Word and in the Power of His Indwelling Spirit, we like Habakkuk can cry out, “No matter what, I will triumph in my LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” Amen & Amen.
