When God’s Answer Doesn’t Make Sense – Habakkuk 1:12-2:20

In our previous sermons, we saw Habakkuk’s first complaint about injustice and God’s surprising response.

Today, we’ll examine Habakkuk’s second complaint and God’s profound answer.

Let’s read Habakkuk 1:12-13

Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?

Habakkuk is struggling to reconcile two truths:

1. God’s holy character – He is pure and cannot tolerate evil

“You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” (1: 13)

When Habakkuk says God is “of purer eyes than to see evil,” he’s acknowledging God’s perfect holiness and righteousness.

This attribute of God means He cannot approve of or participate in evil. God’s holy character is fundamental to His nature He is morally perfect, absolutely pure, and completely set apart from all sin.

But it appears that he is ok with sinful men who do sinful things to destroy others.

This knowledge is creating a tension in Habakkuk’s mind because he sees God using sinful people as instruments of judgment, which seems to conflict with God’s pure nature.

Perhaps a sense of betrayal

Its like a Christian parent using worldly ways to discipline their children – harsh emotional tactics, manipulation, guilt-tripping.

Here are some scenarios where we struggle with understanding God’s holy character:

1. Natural Disasters and Suffering : When earthquakes, hurricanes, or pandemics cause widespread devastation, many question how a holy God could allow such suffering. We struggle to reconcile His goodness with these catastrophic events.
2. Personal Tragedies : When faithful believers face terminal illness, lose children, or experience severe hardships, we often question God’s holy character. Like Habakkuk, we ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
3. Success of the Wicked : When we see corrupt leaders prosper, dishonest businesses thrive, or unethical people getting ahead in life while godly people struggle, we question God’s justice and holiness. This modern parallel closely mirrors Habakkuk’s struggle.
4. Unanswered Prayers : When earnest prayers for healing, restoration, or justice seem to go unanswered, we struggle to understand how a holy God could seem silent. This challenges our
   understanding of His character and promises.
5. Persecution of Christians : As we witness moral decay in society, the persecution of Christians, and the seeming triumph of ungodly values, we struggle to understand why a holy God appears to allow evil to prevail.

2. God’s chosen method – Using the wicked Babylonians to punish Judah

Habakkuk 1:12 where the prophet acknowledges: “O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.”

Habakkuk struggles with God’s decision to use the Babylonians, who were known for their extreme brutality and wickedness, as instruments of judgment against Judah.

While Judah had sinned, the Babylonians were far more wicked, making God’s choice seem paradoxical to Habakkuk.

Parent example

Here are some scenarios where we struggle to understand God’s chosen
methods:

1. Using Non-Christians for Kingdom Work : When God uses non believers or secular organizations to accomplish His purposes (like providing aid or advancing medical breakthroughs), some Christians struggle to accept this as God’s method.
2. Church Divisions and Denominations : Many believers struggle to understand how God could use church splits or denominational differences to advance His kingdom, yet sometimes these lead to greater gospel reach.
3. Personal Setbacks as Spiritual Growth : Job losses, relationship failures, or health challenges that God uses for spiritual transformation often seem like unlikely methods for achieving His purposes.
4. Technology and Modern Media
   The use of secular platforms and digital technology for spreading the gospel can seem like an unlikely method to some traditional believers.

When we struggle to reconcile with these truths, heres what we need to remember

1. God’s justice may be delayed, but it is never denied

In Habakkuk 2:2-3, God assures that justice will come at its appointed time: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

When we are frustrated because of the delay in Gods justice, remember …

• His timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with our expectations

When we feel that God’s justice is taking too long, we must remember that His perfect timing serves multiple purposes:

• It allows time for repentance and transformation of those who are doing wrong

Just as in Noah’s time when God gave people 120 years to repent while the ark was being built, or how He sent prophets to warn nations before judgment, God’s delay often serves as an opportunity for sinners to turn back to Him.

• It develops patience and deepens faith in those who are waiting for justice

James 124 reminds us that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness. When we wait for God’s justice, we’re not just waiting for an outcome – we’re being transformed in the process.

• It demonstrates God’s mercy and long-suffering nature

2 Peter 39 explains this beautifully – “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Just as a parent might delay consequences to give a child opportunity to learn and change, God’s timing often includes space for redemption.

Consider how Jesus spoke about the wheat and tares growing together until harvest – this illustrates how God’s timing often involves allowing situations to fully develop before executing judgment.

2. Pride leads to destruction, but faith leads to life

The contrast between pride and faith is evident throughout chapter 2. The Babylonians represent pride – their soul is “puffed up” 24, while the righteous are called to live by faith.

This principle is demonstrated in several ways:

• The proud Babylonians accumulate wealth unjustly 268, but their gree leads to their downfall

“Shall not all these take up their taunt against him, with scoffing and riddles for him, and say,
‘Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own— for how long? and loads himself with pledges!’
Will not your debtors suddenly arise, and those awake who will make you tremble?
Then you will be spoiled for them. Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the earth, to cities and all who dwell in them.”

• They build their empire through violence 212, but their achievements will ultimately prove worthless

“Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!”

• They trust in idols of their own making 21819, demonstrating the foolishness of human pride

“What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.”

In contrast, those who live by faith:

• Trust in God’s timing rather than their own strength
• Wait patiently for God’s justice rather than seeking revenge
• Find life and righteousness through their faith in God’s character

How do we develop such faith? It comes through Jesus Christ. Here’s how:

• Through the Gospel message – Romans 10:17 tells us that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Understanding and believing in Christ’s sacrifice for us is the foundation of our faith.
• Through His perfect example – Jesus demonstrated perfect faith in the Father, even facing the cross. His life shows us what true faith looks like in action
• Through the Holy Spirit – When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, helping us grow in faith and trust Galatians 52223.
• Through Christian community – Being part of Christ’s body (the church) strengthens our faith as we encourage one another and share in both struggles and victories.
• Through trials – James 124 teaches that trials test and strengthen our faith, with Christ as our anchor through difficult times.

3. God’s glory will ultimately fill the earth (2:14)

• In verse 14, God declares: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” This powerful promise reveals several important truths:
• God’s glory is unstoppable – just as water naturally fills every space in the sea, God’s glory will permeate all creation
• This knowledge will be universal – all people will ultimately recognize God’s sovereignty and glory

This verse provides hope in the context of Habakkuk’s complaints. While evil may seem to triumph temporarily, God’s ultimate purpose is to fill all creation with His glory. This reminds us that:

• Current circumstances are temporary, but God’s glory is eternal
• God’s purposes will prevail despite apparent setbacks
• The final outcome of history is not in doubt God’s glory will triumph

The passage concludes with a powerful statement in 2:20 :

“But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” This passage in Habakkuk teaches us three vital lessons for our lives today:

• Trust God’s timing – Even when we don’t understand His methods or timing, we can trust His perfect justice and wisdom
• Choose faith over pride – Like Habakkuk, we must move from questioning to trusting, from pride to humble faith
• Rest in God’s sovereignty – Knowing that His glory will fill the earth, we can find peace in His ultimate control

When life doesn’t make sense, when God’s methods seem confusing, or when justice appears delayed, remember Habakkuk’s journey. He began with complaints but ended in worship. He started with questions but concluded with trust. And like him, we too can declare that even if everything around us fails:

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength.”

Let us therefore approach our challenges not with despair but with faith, knowing that the same God who was sovereign in Habakkuk’s time remains in control today. His ways may be mysterious, but His purposes are perfect, and His glory will ultimately prevail.

Let us pray…