Look, and be Astounded!

"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." (Habakkuk 1:5, English Standard Version)

We left off last time talking about how God is always working even if we don't see it.  Recall that the prophet Habakkuk was calling out to God regarding the unrighteousness and injustice going on in the nation of Judah.  Well, just when Habakkuk thought God wasn't paying attention, he gets a response to his complaint.  What I want to do is walk briefly through the passage, highlight some points of interest, and then apply this to our situation.

God's reply to Habakkuk comes in Habakkuk 1:5-11.  He begins by telling the prophet, "Look among the nations, and see"  In other words, He's telling Habakkuk to take notice.  God also tells him to "wonder and be astounded."  Now that would concern me.  If God were to tell me, "Look, what I am about to do will astound you," that would certainly grab my attention.  When God says, "be astounded," you're going to be in for something special.  God continues, "For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."  What God was about to reveal to Habakkuk was something that the prophet would never have guessed in a million years.  What was God going to do?

God was going to address the problem of wickedness in the land of Judah; He wasn't ignorant of what was going on.  However, the way He was going to deal with it was the shocking thing.  The balance of the passage (vv. 6-11) details how God was going to bring judgment on Judah by using the Chaldeans as His instrument.  I want to draw from this passage three points:  1) God always deals with sin; 2) God is completely sovereign in all things; and 3) God works according to His plan and in His timing.

1. God always deals with sin.  Don't ever think that God will let sin go unpunished.  There may be times where the unrighteous seem to get ahead, but God's word promises that everyone will face God's judgment ("And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" Hebrews 9:27).  All accounts will be settled, no one will get away with anything.  Either your sins were dealt with at Calvary, or they will be dealt with in hell; there is no other option.  Habakkuk was dismayed at the rampant sin going on in the nation of Judah.  I don't know how, but the prophet somehow lost sight of the fact that God will never let sin remain unpunished.  It may not be done in our timing, but it will be done.

2. God is completely sovereign in all things.  Sovereign implies control, and that is what is described in this passage.  God was using the Chaldeans to exact His judgment on the nation of Judah.  God could have done any number of things to carry out His judgment.  He chose to use the Chaldeans.  Now, the Chaldeans had no idea that what they were doing was actually carrying out the divine will of God.  For all they knew, they were doing exactly what they wanted to do.  Yet God raised them up for precisely this purpose.  The book of Proverbs says, "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).  In other words, we can make all the plans we want, but God determines the outcomes.  God is sovereign!

3. God works according to His plan and in His timing.  God tells Habakkuk that He is working a work that even if told, he would not believe.  Habakkuk was expecting some sort of revival in Judah.  God had other plans.  National revival for Israel would come, but at this particular time, God had something else in mind.  That something else eventually came to be called the Babylonian captivity.  We will never know why all the things that happen do, in fact, happen.  Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever," and Romans 11:33 says, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"  Why was God using the Chaldeans as a tool of His judgment against His chosen people?  Who knows?  Whatever the reason, we know that God is good and God is just, and in that we should take refuge ("Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8).

Application time.  This leads me into the application of today's passage.  We all go through times where we want to cry out, "Why God?  Why is this happening to me?"  Maybe you're going through one of those times right now?  Perhaps there is a situation or person in your life who is causing you great pain, and you're wondering why God has let this come into your life.  Whatever the situation, realize this:  God always deals with sin; God is completely sovereign; and God works according to His plan and in His timing.  Don't be tempted to take matters into your own hands.  God has promised to exact vengeance, and the right is His (cf. Romans 12:19).  Secondly, understand that God has specifically orchestrated whatever particular situation you're going through.  You may not get an answer to why it’s happening, but God has promised to provide the necessary wisdom to get through it (cf. James 1:5).  Finally, don't be in a hurry to get out of the situation you're in.  God may be teaching you something in your trials, and He controls the intensity and duration of all your circumstances.

Remember, God promises that "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

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