Habakkuk Part 1 – Idly Looking

  "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."

Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV)

 

A friend of mine told me to read through Habakkuk when studying through the subject of grief. And I'll start by saying – part of me feels so frustrated when I get recommended a book of one of the prophets. I see their struggles, and I hear their pain – I'm not delusional enough not to see that they deal with much bigger problems than I do. But they get to hear God in the way that we all wish we could! What I wouldn't give to find a letter from God himself in 3-5 business days, detailing exactly what He was doing – or at least that He was doing something.

But there's a bit of comfort that comes with knowing that what you want wouldn't solve everything. The truth is, I don't feel as validated when I see prayers in the Bible that were immediately answered. They show God's mercy just as much, but I like to see the ugly in-between. I like to see struggle. I like to see those "stupid, ignorant prophets" wrestle with God's answers. Because it makes me feel like I'm not alone.

Habakkuk prays for mercy from the struggles that Judah was experiencing – the looming threat of a Babylonian invasion in the midst of the poverty and starvation of its people. So he prays to God, asking: "Why do You make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?" (1:3)

He asks God why He does what seems like nothing. God's response was even worse than confirmation that He was, in fact, doing nothing. Instead, He tells Habakkuk that He's definitely doing something, alright. He's allowing the Chaldeans to rise up and become strong, He's given them the power that they have. If I asked God why He had been so absent in the midst of my heartbreak, and He directly responded by telling me that He was actually the one giving me the heartbreak – I'd be ticked. Habakkuk was. He asked again: "Why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?" (1:13)

The response? Wait. Just hold on for a sec. If the resolution looks slow to you – chill out, it'll get there. "The righteous shall live by his faith." (2:4)

There's nothing wrong with struggling with the wait. That's part of what makes waiting actually work. The thing that we're waiting for has little to no value, if we did nothing to earn it. So when faith doesn't come naturally, wrestle with it. Struggle with the reaction between our spirit and time. It should hurt deep, slicing and burning, as it washes out all of the bonds that we hold with our idols. Harsh, but true.

In the words of the Lord – "just wait, you're not gonna believe what happens next lol"

"Teach me to wait. Don't let me be relieved of my struggles until I can see how You've used them."

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