Discovering God’s Plan Through Habakkuk’s Tough Questions

Habakkuk, who lived around 612 B.C., is the eighth of the twelve minor prophets. Unlike other prophetic books, Habakkuk addresses his questions directly to God instead of Israel.

Life in Israel-Judah (the Southern Kingdom) at the time was far worse than one could imagine. In such a situation, even in our own lives, we may find ourselves surrounded by a maze of questions that leave us puzzled, asking, "Why?"

Life in Israel had been devoid of God, with little regard for the laws of the Torah. As a result, injustice, abuse of fellow beings, and the worship of foreign gods became so rampant that Habakkuk vented his frustration and complaints directly to God.

The very next moment, what disturbed him even more was the oracle he received from God, which revealed that an enemy nation, Babylon, would soon ravage Israel. This left Habakkuk bewildered beyond his worst imagination. He was agitated and asked God how He could allow such a defiling and treacherous nation to prevail against Israel and bring destruction upon God's own chosen people.

Habakkuk cried out and asked God to do something, but the answer he received from God was even more disturbing to him. This may be our own heart’s cry as well, and the answers we get often leave us even more troubled. Yet, during all this, God's comforting word to Habakkuk was, “...but the righteous live by their faithfulness” (Habakkuk 2:4). Habakkuk learned that God might use the rise and fall of empires to bring judgment on Israel. However, like all other nations, Babylon would not stand the test of time and would eventually be brought to ashes.

The truth is that at times God may allow adverse conditions in our lives to bring about righteous restoration. But this does not mean He condones or advocates such evil practices. The unjust economic systems, the accumulation of wealth by corrupt means, the degeneration of human values, and the treatment of people as less than animals—all these were rampant at the time. There was also indulgence in lechery under the influence of alcohol, and most defiling of all, the idolatry that involved making alliances with foreign nations.

However, Habakkuk pleaded with God, wondering if Israel would ever return to the one true God, just as God once restored the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh—an archetype of evil, symbolized by Babylon. The image of the past is also the image of the present. Yet, amid this, a revelation dawned upon Habakkuk:

“For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3).

 Thus, even when we are surrounded by uncertainties and the world around us seems to be falling apart, let us continue to wait upon the Lord, for He cares for His people, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.

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Ranjit Paul is a teacher and a Lake Gardens EGF member, living in Kolkata.