“Look among the nations and watch…be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.” Habakkuk 1:5
In the history of Israel, specifically during the days and ministry of Habakkuk, who is termed a “minor” prophet, though he was a man among men in compassion for His people and for the Lord’s glory, Israel had rebelled against God. God would give to Habakkuk a message to the people of Israel, much like Jesus gave one to Jerusalem after she had rejected Him. It was one of impending judgment which God would use to seek and correct the people bringing them back from their rebellion against Him. Israel’s well-being and eternal blessing could only be realized by her conformity to the will of God. God’s message to Israel, for those who would listen, was that He was bringing against them a violent and merciless nation, which would overrun and destroy them. This idolatrous enemy was ruthless, and in the eyes of Habakkuk, was far more sinful than Israel. The problem was that Israel had received the knowledge of the truth of God, the revelation of the only true God as Creator and Savior of men, only to reject and rebel against Him. Habakkuk was gripped by the overwhelming tide of suffering and destruction that was coming upon his people. So, what was he to do? It is apparent that, though he is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the coming wave of judgment, he is still called by God to deliver a specific message to the people, which would serve for some as a means of salvation, but for most, as a testament against them, knowing the truth, but refusing to believe and obey it. What was his message?
We find Habakkuk, in the second chapter of his book, standing upon the wall of Jerusalem, having set himself to seek God, and expectantly watch to see what God would say to him specifically. This man of God was not only seeking to know how God would deal with the people, but even how he would deal with him, correcting him in any manner that was not of faith. To such a one, the Lord, as He promised Jeremiah who also called upon Him, would answer clearly, so that there would be a decisive response to God by the hearer of His words.
The Lord instructed Habakkuk the following: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may RUN who reads it. For the vision is for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Hab. 2:2,3) The Lord then proceeded to speak specifically to the people concerning their sin in detail, beginning with their pride, self-reliance, self-centeredness, and self-sufficiency. Their godlessness was characterized by their faithlessness, resulting in wickedness, oppression, plunder, violence, and the deliberate pursuit of evil, contrary to God and all that He is. There’s was a faithless life and existence by choice, rejecting the Author of faith, and their only hope of salvation. Not only would God speak of their sin, but of the coming judgment because of it, at a specific time by a specific enemy. The time had been set. No man knew it, but God. God would bring about all that He had promised at this specific time. It was the same with Sodom and Gomorrah, a time had been set, and only when Lot and his wife and daughters left the city did the fire from heaven fall. With Noah, the clock also had been set, so that the floods came when Noah and his family were safely in the ark. Israel and Jerusalem would not escape the fixed time of God’s judgment. Only the individual who heard Habakkuk’s message, and obeyed, could be saved.
Our race against time is now. The commitment to “run,” responding to God’s call is essential. True Faith in Christ is the great saving imperative.
Dear Father, Strengthen us to run. In Jesus’ name, Amen.