Day By Day - Habukkuk 1

By Anne Horsburgh

Habakkuk appears to be ministering in the nation of Judah as a prophet. Not much is known about him as he mentions nothing of his genealogy or location. In reading commentaries, it was suggested that he may have been a “professional prophet” as well as a priest connected with the temple worship in Jerusalem.
The land was filled with wickedness, crimes of violence and lawlessness were increasing so rapidly that Habakkuk was appalled and could not believe what was happening. Although repeatedly called to repentance, the nation stubbornly refuses to change her sinful ways.

Sounds a little like the world we live in today. So much violence, unhappy people and unwell people, who appear to take the lives of others to resolve the anger within or to see justice; or just to make people suffer as they have. Folks stealing items as it is quicker and cheaper, hoping to either make a quick buck; or use the items for themselves; countries never agreeing or maintaining peace, always at war.

Habakkuk was very concerned with the state of world as he knew it. Habakkuk struggles in his faith when he sees men flagrantly break God’s law without fear of divine intervention. For Habakkuk it appears that the wicked prosper. He put his concerns to God asking how long He will allow the wickedness of Judah to go unpunished.

Have you asked God questions like that? Have you asked why the innocent suffer under the hands of the evil ones? I have. Have I always gained an answer to the specific question? Not always. The old phrase we use in teaching regarding answers from God is “Yes, No or wait”. I believe we know the answers but sometimes are unaware we do or do not equate scripture with the questions. I have even asked weird and wonderful questions of God, like…Why do the snakes have to come near the house? Why so many flies? How did you work out the shape of the platypus? How did you think of so many colours? Our God can be asked these questions. I do not believe He would be offended by them. God is bigger than that. It is part of the relationship we have with God – honesty. He knows what you are thinking anyway even if you do not say it out loud.

Back to Habakkuk’s first problem regarding the nation of Judah being unrepentant. Habakkuk gained a second problem as he did not like it when God said He would use the nasty Chaldeans to come storming from the East as His rod of punishment. Habakkuk was more troubled as he knew that the Chaldeans were even more corrupt than Judah, so how can God use them??? Well, God can, and it is within His wisdom, authority and power to do so.

The main thoughts I gain from this particular chapter are:

1. When you ask God a question, you must realise He may answer it straight away
   and you might not like the answer…..
2. God will use all things if He chooses to complete His plan… remember the donkey
   belonging to Balaam.