As we look around us today, we have many unanswered questions especially in the reality that all we have today can be gone tomorrow. Uncertainty is the rule of the day. That’s why we must not view things from the perspective of what we have in this world. Jesus teaches us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries—that today’s trouble is enough for today. (Mt. 6:34) By focusing on today’s challenges and trusting in God’s provision, we can let go of doubts about the future knowing that God will provide for our needs as we seek His guidance. By doing so, we can find peace and freedom from doubts and worry about tomorrow. Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:7 states, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This means trusting in God’s promises and direction, rather than relying on physical evidence or human understanding. Faith is not a blind leap into the unknown, but rather a confident trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness. It involves looking beyond the present circumstances and focusing on the unseen, eternal realities. While doubt is often viewed as an enemy of faith, it can be a natural and necessary part of the faith journey. Doubt can be a catalyst for deeper faith as in the examples of Thomas, Job and even Jesus’ disciples. As evidenced by these men, engaging with doubt can strengthen faith and help develop a more mature faith. Job realized that his doubt was a test from God: “But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10) He was right as we read in the last chapter of Job: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Therefore, we must acknowledge and confess our doubts before God. It is an opportunity for us to draw near to God and put our trust in the Lord. (Ps. 73:28) We must act in faith despite doubt. Even in the midst of uncertainty, we can choose to trust God’s character and sovereignty.
For more lessons in faith, we will examine one of the shortest books of Scripture—the prophecy of Habakkuk consisting of only 3 chapters. The book was written during a time of moral and spiritual decline in the nation following the cutting-off of Josiah—a king who turned the people back to God. Habakkuk was a man of a deeply tender nature and spiritual character. He manifested a great love for his people, fulfilling the position of watchman over them. His questions and doubts arose from his jealousy for the holiness and justice of God. The prophet was burdened and perplexed over God’s permission for evil in Judah. Let us learn lessons from Habakkuk that are relevant to where we are today as a nation and to spiritual applications for each of us as we walk out this journey of faith. Therefore, this book was written for our learning so that we may ponder and listen like the prophet himself, “to see what He will say unto us, and what we shall answer when we are reproved.”
Chapter 1 opens with addressing the burden that Habakkuk has for his nation and his people. He says: “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save?” He then gives graphic details about his concerns: perverseness; destruction; violence; strife; contention; the law is slack and justice and a righteous sentence never go forth; hostility of the wicked surround the righteous; justice is perverted. Does the condition of his nation ring true to what we are seeing today in America? Notice, it is to the ear of God, not of man, that he poured his complaint! Habakkuk bowed his soul before God, not as one competent to pass sentence upon others, but as one who was a part of that which had so grievously failed. God did not ignore his cry and answered him saying: “Look around you among the nations and see! And be astonished! Astounded! For I am putting into effect a work in your days that you would not believe it if it were told you.” God answered him telling of the chastisement He had prepared for the instruction of His disobedient and rebellious people! God deals with His wayward people. God loves His people too well to allow them to prosper and remain a united company when pride and worldliness has usurped the place of humility and the pilgrim character. God permits the power of Satan to work in order to draw His people back to Him. How this should call for confession and brokenness on our part! Even though Habakkuk could not fully understand how God could allow Satan’s minions to bring destruction, he focuses on God’s character and righteousness: “Are not You from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die, O LORD, You have appointed the Chaldean to execute Your judgment, and You, O Rock, have established him for chastisement and correction. You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look upon injustice. Why then do You look upon the plunderer? Why are you silent when the wicked one destroys him who is more righteous than the oppressor is?” (v. 12) God is big enough to allow us to pour out our innermost frustrations and thoughts to Him!
In the opening words of Chapter 2 Habakkuk confesses his complaints and confusion and bows down to God saying: “Oh I know, I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God! I will in my thinking stand upon my post as a watchman and station myself on the tower, and will watch to see what He will say within me and what answer I will make as His mouthpiece to the perplexities of my complaint.” He vows to wait upon the LORD for the answer! Notice his methodology in seeking God: he seeks God’s direction pouring out his heart to Him; he fixes his eyes on God, he is a watchman—allowing God to work within him and around him; ready to hear from God and be His mouthpiece. As he maintains his lonely watch, God answers, bidding him, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (v.2) The oracle about to be revealed was not for the prophet alone, but through him for all men and especially for the latter days. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” This is the central theme of the Bible. The cause of life and death is presented. Trust in God brings life (Gen. 15:6; John 3:16; Rom. 6:23); pride which was the original sin of Lucifer leads to death, because it will not accept by faith the grace of God. This is the word that we should run to and declare. This is exactly what Paul did in the New Testament as this verse is the key-note of his instruction to both saint and sinner. (Romans 1: 16-17 and Gal. 3: 11, 6:16) It was all-important that the lonely prophet look beyond and above what his natural eyes beheld, and thus would he endue “as seeing Him who is invisible.” “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) In summary, “the just shall live by faith” means that salvation and righteousness come through trusting in God’s character, promises, and sovereignty, rather than through human works or law-keeping. The just are those that live by God’s character and actions and His standard for humanity. This concept serves as a rebuke to human pride and arrogance, emphasizing the importance of humility and dependence on God. So today, those who would live for God must fix our eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith knowing that He goes before us to make the way. However great the apparent triumph of sin in the present time, the outlook is all bright for the man and woman of faith. When the present evil age is passed away, “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (v 2: 14)
In the remainder of Chapter 2, God highlights dangerous deceptions to avoid that lead to judgment. First on the list was wine and wealth! Next comes greed with the insatiable desire for money, power and control. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Tim. 2:10) God reminds us that He owns it all! He warns of the pitfall of debt. The wicked shed innocent blood and commit violence in the land: shame will come to their house; their own life will be forfeited; their works will be consumed; the poison they forced upon the people will return upon themselves; violence and terror will overwhelm them for the evil they inflicted upon others; their false gods and religions will be exposed and deposed! In the last verse of the chapter Habakkuk declares the victory and glory of God: “But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth hush and keep silence before him.” (v. 20) When God speaks, it is for man to hear, and to bow in subjection to His Word. Thus, Habakkuk heard His voice, and his anxious questionings vanished. His heart was at rest, and his soul was awed before the majesty of God’s glory. May we too be of the same chastened and humbled spirit!
Chapter 3 records the prayer of Habakkuk and his triumphant faith! God’s Word had been brought home in power to his soul. The result is that he prostrates himself before Him in the attitude of prayer and worship. While he was overpowered by the sense of the majesty and omnipotence of God so that he trembled before Him, nevertheless he looked up with confidence to the only One who can bring revival and blessing to His chastened people, so rightfully under His rod because of their sins. In verses 1-2 the prophet pours out his heart on the all-glorious One, who from of old had been the deliverer and the support of His redeemed people: “A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to wild, enthusiastic, and triumphal music. O LORD, I have heard the report of You and was afraid. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make Yourself known! In wrath earnestly remember love, pity and praise.” In the practical carrying out of truth throughout the ages by God’s people, there has been doubts and failures. As a result, God has permitted division and strife to take the place of unity and holy fellowship. All this is cause for brokenness on our part, but not for utter discouragement. Whatever failure in our faith walk must be the catalyst to a deeper appreciation of God and His truth. Habakkuk declares in verse 4 “And His brightness was like the sunlight, rays streamed from His hand, and there in the sunlike splendor was the hiding place of His power.” Like Habakkuk, we have reason to take a very low place indeed; but, like him too, we can count upon God to be with us in that low place. He pleads for revival, which we know God was pleased to grant when the chastisement had cleansed His people. So, may we be assured that God will delight to give revival to America though the hour be late, if He discerns among us that same spirit of lowly subjection to His will that we see here. During the remainder of Chapter 3, Habakkuk rehearses God’s deliverance, provision and love throughout the journey to the Promised Land. He realized that the Shepherd of God’s people is still faithful, though His sheep wander from Him. It is time for us like Habakkuk to focus on all the faithfulness of God throughout the Bible and in our personal lives. God is able to deliver us when we get our eyes back upon the Shepherd, heed His voice and follow Him. Remember the promise of Psalm 23: 4-5 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; they rod and they staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
The last three verses of the book are the expression of a truly revived man who has learned to find all his hope in God. “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD GOD is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” What a difference in the opening and the closing of the burden of Habakkuk! He begins as a man bewildered and confused, who is filled with questions and doubts; he closes as one who has found the answer to all his questions and found solace and rest for his soul in God alone. As we likewise experience the upheavals of today may we like Habakkuk release all our doubts and difficulties into the Lord’s hands. God will prevail and in Him is our strength and help! Happy in this glorious exaltation, Habakkuk, and we too can walk in faith on our high places, far above the snares of earth. As true believers in Christ we have His Spirit and His grace to overcome though the power of faith! Only by constant self-judgment and careful walking in the Spirit can we join in the song of praise to our God and King! Meditate on Phil. 4: 4.