Looking Through the Lens of Faith

Scripture Text: Habakkuk 1:1-2

The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?

Habakkuk 1:1-2

One of the shortest books in the Old Testament is the book of Habakkuk. In its three brief chapters, we see an amazing transformation in the prophet's outlook on life. His opening words express depths of despair, but at the close of the book he has risen to heights of joy.

An old saying declares that “out of sight” is “out of mind”—people do not concern themselves with what they cannot see. In our case, however, it is the fact that we lose sight of God that sometimes causes us to think that He doesn't have us in mind. Our circumstances don't always immediately reveal God's purpose. This is especially true when these circumstances appear to favor the wicked. The prophet Habakkuk, who uttered the complaint in today's key verse, wrestled with this problem as he watched the ruthless Babylonians literally get away with murder.

The prophet's question was essentially the same as Job's query. In essence, they both asked, “God, if you are as good and just as we know you are, why don't you do something?” Job wanted to know when God would finally set the time for judgment. In exasperation, he lists a variety of situations in which the “bad guys” appear to be winning. Job's question was not without ulterior motives. He wondered why such tragedies had befallen him, despite his righteous behavior, when others who blatantly ignored God's righteous standard seemed to go free. The prophet Habakkuk described the social and political climate of his day and wondered why God would tolerate such wrongs. The answer for both men was not a comfortable one.

In Job's case, the answer was silence. God does not respond to Job's questions until the end of the book. Even then, He does not explain Himself. For Habakkuk, God outlined His plan but warned: “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told”. Paul quoted this verse while preaching in the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch as a caution against the danger of unbelief.

Faith recognizes that God is working out His plan according to His own timetable. We know that a day is coming when both the righteous and the unjust will be held accountable for their actions.

Reflect

1. Have we ever asked why bad people prosper while good people suffer?

2. How often have you been so confused by things going on in your life that you have cried out, “Doesn’t God care?”

Remember

Dear readers, today's passage and key verse remind us of the need to look at our circumstances through the lens of faith. Not only will those who lack faith have trouble seeing God's hand in the midst of their circumstances, they would fail to grasp His plan, even if He told them.

We have an advantage that both Job and Habakkuk did not. We possess the completed Scriptures. The Old and New Testament both warn of a coming day of judgment.

Read

Job 24:1-25; Acts 13:13-52

Pray

Dear LORD, please grant me Your grace throughout this day to walk the straight and narrow way, to do whatever in Your sight, which is what is good and is perfect, and is just and right. Please always remind me what You have said in Your very words that the only right way is the straight and narrow way. Open my eyes that I may see, give me ears to always listen and thus increase my faith. This I pray in His name, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.