Wilderness Wanderings
God's Drastic Measures
"Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own (Habakkuk 1:5-6). The book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between the prophet and God, taking place while a Jehoiakim was king of Judah. His reign was marked by injustice, treachery, and bloodshed. The priests taught whatever they wanted. The rich and powerful increased their wealth and power while the rest struggled to survive. Habakkuk's prayers are angry. The prayers of the righteous have fallen on deaf ears. Where in the world is God in the middle of all this? The prophet shakes his fist towards heaven, "How long are you going to let this go on? What about your promises that Abraham will be a blessing to the nations? How can this nation be a blessing to anyone?" A fair few of us can empathize with Habakkuk. Chaos, violence and injustice seem to increase daily. Various wars and disasters headline ever newscast. And God is sidelined. Military chaplains are no longer allowed to mention god while at work. We too might cry, "How long?" In our text, God answers. And his answer is very unexpected. He is still at work. But he is going to use those vile and violent Babylonians. Why? He will answer injustice with injustice, violence with violence, power with power, lawlessness with lawlessness. As Judah has done, it will be done to her. Instead of pressing on towards his Kingdom on earth, God seems to be heading in the opposite direction; instead of peace, he ordains war; instead of security, he ordains violence; instead of good, he ordains evil; instead of life, he ordains death. We don't like to think about God this way. But it is a theme that runs through the Bible. In Psalm 81, God says, "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So, I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices" (11,12). This is echoed in Romans 1 and Ephesians 4. When people insist on lawlessness, God sometimes gives in, and civilizations collapse. Evil never produces life, only death. The turmoil and violence and death of our world may not be evidence of God's absence but his judgment as he pursues his purpose, the full coming of the kingdom of his Son. Who of us can understand how he chooses to accomplish his goals? None understood Jesus' crucifixion as God plan; that this was the Christ who would sit at God's right hand. What should we do? Follow Habakkuk. Pray. Pray that God will bring a better day. Pray as Jesus taught us, "Your kingdom come." And pray that God will preserve his people during the evil days. As you journey on, go with his blessing: May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May your day end with rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you. May you rest in his provision as he brings night, and then new dawn.
