Living by FaithSample

The Sovereignty of God

The prospect of the Chaldeans being God’s judgement upon Judah caused Habakkuk great anxiety. He knew that the God of Israel is absolutely holy and that He cannot tolerate evil. Yet He chooses to use godless pagans to invade Judah. How could that be? In Habakkuk’s eyes, the Judeans, as wicked as they were, were more righteous than the pagan Chaldeans. Surely a God of righteousness and justice, could not allow such a thing to occur?

Habakkuk’s response is the response of every person in this world. Every sinner, in their eyes, looks more righteous than the next one. There is always someone worse. A bigger liar. A superior gossiper. A prouder man. It is often such people - the deceptive, the corrupt, and the ruthless - who thrive in our fallen world. How can God allow such evil? Surely it is at odds with the character of God? That was Habakkuk’s complaint.

Habakkuk’s failure and ours is that we often fail to understand who God is in light of our sinfulness. God is so perfectly holy that even the slightest sliver of sin is an offense to Him. At the same time, God is also sovereign and mighty and He is able to use even the evil of men within His grand plan. What men mean for evil, God uses for good (Genesis 50:20). God employed the wickedness of Joseph’s brothers to save Jacob’s family. God used the ruthlessness of the Chaldeans to judge Judea. God used the trials of Daniel to vindicate His name in Babylon. God used the plotting of the Jews and Romans against Jesus to bring us salvation. Our God’s sovereign power is such that He is able to use the worst of evil, pain and suffering to bring forth good for His glory.