A couple months ago, I preached through the book of Habakkuk at The Garden. Truth be told, I had never studied this minor prophet of the Old Testament, but as I was reading through it one day, the Lord put it on my heart to take a deep dive on Sunday mornings. It quickly became one of my favorite Bible studies that I have ever done.
These three short chapters were recorded 2600 years ago, but, as with most Scripture, the practical relevance for today is incredible. The book of Habakkuk is unique in that, instead of being the traditional prophet that spoke to the people on behalf of God, the Bible actually records a back-and-forth conversation between Habakkuk and God.
The writing begins with the prophet looking around the southern kingdom of Judah and being disgusted at all of the immorality, injustice, violence, corruption, and oppression in this nation that is supposed to be “the people of God.” He is righteously angry. But, more than that, he is confused and frustrated that God isn’t doing anything about it. Habakkuk has been pleading with God for quite some time to intervene and to bring correction, repentance, and revival. But God has remained silent.
Until verse 5. God finally responds. “Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” That’s a pretty thrilling verse! A verse of excitement and anticipation. God has not been deaf to Habakkuk’s prayers. He has heard them and has a plan to answer them! The excitement that Habakkuk must have felt at this moment quickly turned to horror as God continued to speak: “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans.”
The Chaldeans (aka Babylonians) were the most vile, wicked, treacherous, deplorable people to ever walk the face of the earth. They had a reputation of being complete barbarians who would completely destroy anything and everything that stood in their way. They were utter pagans who worshipped themselves. But they were also God’s answer to Habakkuk’s prayer. God would send the Babylonians to discipline the Israelites.
The only thing worse than the seeming silence of God is when God finally answers your prayer, but He answers it in a way that is not at all what you were wanting. This is where Habakkuk found himself. And this is where all of us have found ourselves at one point or another. Have you ever been in the place where everything you know to be true about God doesn’t seem to fit into your current reality? “God, I know You’re good, but this doesn’t feel very good.” “God, I know You’re sovereign, but it sure doesn’t seem like You are working in the midst of this.” What do you do when you find yourself in the valley of confusion, frustration, angst, despair, and hopelessness?
There’s so many incredible lessons in the book of Habakkuk, but the one that preaches the most to me is how this man continued to pursue God. This short book could have been really short. It could have just been 11 verses long. After God revealed His (seemingly ridiculous) plan, Habakkuk could have just walked. “Forget it. I’m done. This doesn’t make sense. I can’t reconcile this. This isn’t what I signed up for. This isn’t who I thought You were. I’m out.”
But Habakkuk responds to God. And he responds with heartfelt honesty. His response is filled with questions and doubts and even complaints. It’s natural to read this and begin to exegete the response and completely miss the fact that Habakkuk responded at all! That’s the lesson!
When God doesn’t make sense, wrestle! Fight. Pursue. Don’t give up. Remind yourself of who He is. Remind yourself of what He’s done. Find some solitude and wait for Him. Be still and know that His ways are higher than your ways. His thoughts are higher than your thoughts. He is always at work in the lives of His people. Even when it doesn’t seem like it. Trust Him. Wrestle.