Habakkuk's JourneySample

"Meeting Habakkuk Cont." Author’s Thoughts: 1. What theme stood out the most when you read Habakkuk 1? There was an overarching theme of “why would God allow evil to overtake good.” This question is one that is very much a part of life today. When we look at the world we live in, we often ask this very question. However, truth be told, this is the wrong question. The better question is; what is God doing through all this evil? 2. Why do you think this book made it into the Canon? What do you think God’s purpose for this chapter is? When I read this I immediately noticed that Habakkuk was questioning God for not interceding. My thoughts were drawn in two directions: First, that was a bold move and second, why was he so bold? This very chapter is the demonstration of grace and love. As Christians we know that God has the ultimate authority over everything that has or will ever happen. In that, we feel as though to question things that we do not understand is to question God’s authority. This is the purpose of this book. It is ok to have and ask questions even to God. God never intended for us to be mindless drones that would just plug along and be the same cookie-cutter Christians. It is ok for us to ask God why things are the way they are and even what He is doing about it. His answer to Habakkuk was not a detailed plan: the point to be made is that God knew it looked bad, but He had it in control. 3. What was the concern during the time of this writing? Civil unrest was all around. The nation of Israel was in a time of fear as the Babylonians were growing in strength. They were marching through nations and taking over. Israel feared that they were next. Habakkuk was looking around to the neighboring nations and witnessing the prosperity and military success of a nation that Israel considered to be treacherous. To see this and know that Israel was in their sights and that Israel was more unrighteous than righteous, not to mention the laws of God were being neglected while evil seemed to be rewarded. 4. How does it translate to where we are now? Our generation has gotten to the point where lines are blurred between good and evil. Up is down and cats are playing with dogs, so what is right? When we look around we feel the need to question, but we hold to fear. For some it is the fear to question and to others it is the fear of the answer. The takeaway is to understand, go ahead and ask, but know that God has us in His hands and He has a plan. We see the enemy is marching and Christians are being attacked all over the world, but there is a light for us. Habakkuk is a setup for our ability to openly speak with our Father. One gift that we received from Jesus is that we can go directly to Him about anything and at any time. Talk to your Father because He is always concerned with what concerns you. Challenge: Read Habakkuk one more time and try to see the message as a hope for things to come. When Habakkuk wrote this, he saw the destructive ways of the people around him, yet he neglected to fall back on the scripture that he grew up with. Genesis 50:20 says, “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result--the survival of many people.” These were the words of Joseph to his brothers. They had sold him into slavery and when they were reunited they feared of his retaliation, but Joseph never lost his trust in God’s plan. In every bad situation, there is a positive that will come from it even when we do not see it.