Habakkuk 1

The Explanation

Habakkuk is a prophet, someone who speaks for God. But this book starts strangely. Instead of God speaking first, Habakkuk speaks first, and he is not happy. He is almost complaining. He says: "Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear?" He looks around in his own country, Judah, and he sees terrible things. People cheat each other. Judges do not judge fairly. Violent people get away with it. The law of God is ignored. Habakkuk asks: God, do you see this? Why do you not do anything?

Then God answers. And His answer is surprising. God says: I am going to do something, something so big you would not believe it even if I told you. I am raising up the Chaldeans. That is another name for the Babylonians, a fierce army from the east. God describes them: their horses are faster than leopards, their soldiers come to do violence, they laugh at kings and mock strong cities. They sweep across the land like a wind.

You would think Habakkuk shouts hooray. Finally, punishment for the evil people in Judah! But no. Habakkuk is shocked. In the second half of the chapter he asks a new question, and this one is even harder. He says to God: You are holy. Your eyes are too pure to look at evil. So how can You use the Babylonians, who are even worse than we are, to punish us? That does not fit together. The bad guys catch people like fish in a net, and then they worship their own net. And You let them?

The chapter ends with that question hanging in the air. No answer yet.

What Does This Mean?

Habakkuk shows us something important: you may ask God honest questions. Habakkuk does not pretend everything is fine. He does not hide his confusion behind polite words. He brings his real question straight to God: why?

And notice, God does not scold him. God answers. But the answer only makes Habakkuk more confused. That happens sometimes. Sometimes God's answer is bigger and stranger than we expected, and we have to keep thinking about it.

The chapter also shows something about God's justice. God does see the evil in Judah. He is not asleep. But the way He works is not the way we would work. He uses a rough, violent nation to correct His own people. That is hard to understand. Habakkuk does not understand it either, and the Bible lets him say so.

The Common Thread

Habakkuk is part of a long story. God had made a covenant with Israel, a promise, like a strong agreement of love and faithfulness. Israel had broken that agreement again and again. God warns them, but He also stays faithful.

Many years later, God sends someone who never breaks the covenant: Jesus. Jesus also cried out to His Father. In the garden of Gethsemane He asked: Father, if it is possible, take this cup from Me. Jesus knows what it is to bring hard questions to God. And on the cross He cried: My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Habakkuk's honest questions point ahead to Jesus, who carried the biggest question of all, and trusted His Father anyway.

For You

Maybe you have looked at the news, or at something happening at school, and thought: this is not fair. Why does God not stop this? That is a Habakkuk-question. You do not have to push it away. You do not have to pretend you understand when you do not. God is big enough for your real questions.

But notice what Habakkuk does. He does not walk away from God. He walks toward God with his question. That is a huge difference. You can do the same. When something bothers you or hurts you, tell God. Even if you do not get a quick answer, you are talking with the One who is listening.

Talk About It

Have you ever asked God a question that did not get answered right away? What was it?

Why do you think God sometimes uses ways that surprise us or that we do not understand?

Praying Together

Lord God, thank You that we may come to You with everything, even with our hard questions. Help us to trust You, also when we do not understand Your ways. Teach us, like Habakkuk, to keep talking with You. Amen.