DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRUSTING GOD'S PLAN

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – TRUSTING GOD'S PLAN

"O LORD, how long shall I cry and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, 'Violence!' and You will not save." (Habakkuk 1:2)

We have probably all been in Habakkuk's shoes, as we look around us at the evil and wickedness in society. We are like the Psalmist, who moaned, "Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind" (Psalm 73:21), or like Lot, "who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked, for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds" (II Peter 2:7-8). We are vexed and we cry out to God, but it seems our prayers go nowhere. There doesn't seem to be any change. And we cry out, "O LORD, how long will You put up with this?"

Habakkuk is moved by the state of the culture around him. What does Habakkuk see? Iniquity. "Plundering and violence are before me. There is strife and contentions arises.   Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds" (verses 3-4). It is not a pretty sight!

God does give an answer, but not one that Habakkuk wanted to hear. God said that He would bring the Chaldeans – a bitter and nasty nation – to attack and conquer God's people. "Wait a minute, God. That's not the way answer I was looking for." He cannot believe that God would send an evil nation to punish them, God's people. So he appeals to God, "Are You not from everlasting, O LORD, my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You have appointed them for judgment" (vs. 12).

Habakkuk waited for an answer, and the LORD spoke to him again. God's answer: "The vision is for the future, and though it tarries, it will surely come. Look at the proud. His soul is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith" (2:3-4).

Habakkuk prayed again: "O Lord, I have heard what you said, and was afraid; O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In wrath, remember mercy" (3:2).

In the end, Habakkuk resigns himself to God's plan and says that whatever happens – if the harvest fails, if his herds die -- he will still trust God: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation" (vs. 18)

So what can we do when God does not answer our prayers like we think He should? Habakkuk gives us some advice.

    1. The Just shall live by his faith (2:4). That is, Trust God. Keep faith in His divine goodness, and wisdom.

    2. Understand that God's plan is based in His perfect knowledge.

    3. Plead for mercy (3:2). God is merciful.

    4. Rejoice in God of our salvation(3:18). When things don't go the way we want, whatever else happens, our salvation is the most important                 thing. Whatever else happens, we can be assured that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We can still rejoice in Him.

Love, Dad