Scripture Text: Habakkuk 1:1-4
Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
Habakkuk 1:3
The “problem of evil” is a philosophical dilemma that has troubled believers throughout history. It goes something like this: If God is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful, how can evil, suffering, disaster, and death exist in the world? If He is all-loving, wouldn't He want to end these things? And if He is all-knowing, wouldn't He know how? And if He is all-powerful, wouldn't He be able to do so? If He really is all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful, how can we explain these things? But if He is not all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful, how can He be God?
The problem of evil is not only an issue raised by unbelievers, for we find people wrestling with it in the pages of Scripture as well. The prophet Habakkuk was one of them. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah whose book seems to have been written just before 605 B.C., the date of Babylon's first invasion of Judah (see Jeremiah 46). This short book feels more like a psalm than a prophecy because it revolves around a dialogue with God rather than a message for the nation. Habakkuk's name means “embracer,” which various commentators have interpreted to indicate his love for God, his love for the people, or God's love for him (a man embraced by God).
Habakkuk poses his essential question early in this book: Why does evil go unpunished? (v. 3). From a human perspective, God appears to be not listening, not paying attention, or not doing anything (v. 2). The prophet feels forced to watch things that God should not be allowing or tolerating. The sin he sees is that of his own people, and like the psalmists his words reflect anger, grief, and a desire for justice. Yet justice is not being done and is even being perverted or twisted out of shape (v. 4).
Is God paralyzed? How can people sow sin and not reap judgment? Morally and spiritually, things are the opposite of what they should be.
Reflect
1. Are you deeply bothered by the problem of evil you are seeing?
2. What is your response to such?
3. What message do these send to you?
Remember
The perversion of justice deeply bothered the prophet Habakkuk, and it can definitely bother us as well.
Dear readers, in moments when we don’t understand God’s ways, we need to trust His unchanging character. That’s exactly what Habakkuk did. He believed that God is a God of justice, mercy, and truth. In the process, he learned to look at his circumstances from the framework of God’s character instead of looking at God’s character from the context of his own circumstances.
In the Person of Christ Jesus, the very reality was seen. What He suffered from evil men was definitely in the Sovereign plan of His Father and was meant for the good of those believed in Him.
Read
Psalm 89:13-14; Jeremiah 46; Acts 2:22-24; Romans 8:28
Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, it is easy to let my circumstances change how I understand You. Help me to remember that You are good and faithful, even though I can’t see everything and may not understand how You are working. Help me always to focus on Your Son, Jesus and always through the Holy Spirit grant me the strength to persevere in following Him. This I pray in His name, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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