God Isn’t Lining up With Expectations
April 29, 2022
Commentary
Even though Habakkuk is deeply disturbed about the wicked conditions of God’s people and wants God to do something about it he is not ready for the way God is going to deal with it. He can’t believe that God is going to send the Babylonians like a pack of wolves to devour and punish them for their wickedness (vv. 5-11). Habakkuk wasn’t sure how to respond and ends up with a troubling issue that most of us have had to cope with at one time or another. God is about to do something that doesn’t fit in with what we have come to know about God so far. God isn’t lining up with Habakkuk’s expectations.
This brings us to the place of what we are to do when we are troubled and confused by what takes place in our lives. Whatever Habakkuk does wrong with his confusion, there is one thing that he does right. Even when he says the wrong words, he addresses them to God (vv. 12-13). It is so easy when we have some problem with God or some trial in life to retreat and turn sour inside. Just think of the people you know who have given up on the Church and now are almost unreachable for the kingdom of God. Like Habakkuk, even when we don’t feel like it or when we don’t have the answer we need to draw near to God and not withdraw from His presence.
Initially Habakkuk’s complaint to God wasn’t about the Babylonians. He was upset about the fact that God wasn’t doing anything about the wickedness of His own people. But now that he is bugged about the coming of the Babylonians to conquer them his attitude changes. Now he sees his people as poor, helpless fish who are being hunted in the ocean by nasty fishermen. (vv. 14-17).
Application
God may use whatever unusual instrument he chooses to correct or punish me for sin in my life. When I deserve punishment how can I complain about the kind of rod He uses?
Habakkuk 1:12– 17 (NET)
12 Lord, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. Lord, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.
13 You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?
14 You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler.
15 The Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net. When he catches them in his dragnet, he is very happy.
16 Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat.
17 Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net? Will he always destroy nations and spare none?
Illustration: One Dish of Apricots or Two
A young psychology student serving in the Army decided to test a theory. Drawing kitchen duty, he was given the job of passing out apricots at the end of the chow line. He asked the first few soldiers that came by, “You don’t want any apricots, do you?” Ninety percent said “No.” Then he tried the positive approach: “You do want apricots, don’t you?” About half answered, “Uh, yeah. I’ll take some.” Then he tried a third test, based on the fundamental either/or selling technique. This time he asked, “One dish of apricots or two?” And although soldiers don’t like Army apricots, 40 percent took two dishes and 50 percent took one! (Bits & Pieces, May 26, 1994, pp. 9-10).