Habakkuk

Okay, jumping right in then :)

I had a really rough week this week.  There are a lot of personal details involved that would take several posts to explain, but let me just sum it up by saying that I want something badly, God keeps it out of reach, and I don't like it.  Given that, I have learned a lot.  (Pause to grab my Bible and journal).

I read Habakkuk.  Fun to spell!  It's only 3 chapters consisting of a conversation between God and Habakkuk.  God tells Habakkuk that He will punish the Israelites with the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and Habakkuk asks why He would use His enemies against His chosen people.  Bottom line:  evil has to be punished.  God tells Habakkuk that He will punish Babylon after He makes His point with the Israelites.  Remember, the Babylonian invasion led to the story of Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, so God knew what He was doing.  In Habakkuk 1:5 God says, "Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded.  For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."  I like that and hate that at the same time.  I like it because God is capable of doing unbelievable things.  Good or Bad.  Rutger Hauer's character in the movie Blade Runner said, "I have seen things you people wouldn't believe".  I like that quote.  I hope to one day be able to honestly say that.  Hopefully in a good way though.  I hate 1:5 because it's not all about me.  I can't focus on myself.  I have to lift my eyes up and see what God is doing.  He promises I won't believe what I see.  Again, I hope it is good.  So, how can I apply this to myself?  God is amazing in this.  If I focus on myself, I feel bad and upset.  I can't control my life, so I get frustrated.  God tells me to lift my eyes up.  In Habakkuk 2:2 He says to write the vision down plainly, so I'm doing my best.  In this context, He is assuring an impending punishment for His people at the hands of the Babylonians.  He also assures that He will build His people back afterward greater than they were before.  I haven't had a vision or a distinct prophecy, but this could apply to His plan for my life (and yours).  In Habakkuk 2:3 God says, "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end-it will not delay."  This comforts me.  It's also funny.  God says the vision, or prophecy, will come true at an appointed time, but also that it hurries.  God truly does laugh at our timetable.  He tells us to wait if it seems slow because it is coming.  It is unavoidable, imminent.  It will get here soon enough, and w/o delay.  He's telling me to wait on Him because "the righteous shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4).  I have faith that God will leave me speechless.  He has promised good to me (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28, to name a few) so I am not worried.  Enemies may overtake me, but I will awe in their defeat soon after.  Whatever happens to me, I wouldn't believe it right now if He told me (Habakkuk 1:5).

For the Kingdom,
Stuart