One Scary Reply for Help

Scripture: The Lord replied: "Look, and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I am about to do! For I am going to do something in your own lifetime that you will have to see to believe. I am raising a new force on the world scene, the Chaldeans, a cruel and violent nation who will march across the world and conquer it." Habakkuk 1:5-6

Observation: Habakkuk has a conversation with the Lord in two parts. In part 1, Habakkuk wonders when the Lord will take action and correct the sins of Judah, and the Lord replies ... he has raised up the Chaldeans, who are going to destroy everyone and everything. (In part 2, Habakkuk wonders why God would allow evil to win, and God clarifies that the Chaldeans themselves will then be destroyed. Habakkuk responds to all this with a chapter of praise.)

God introduces his judgment with hopeful words ... look, be amazed, be astounded, I am doing something new, it will happen soon, you have to see it to believe it!! Then he describes it ... terrible and evil people are going to cruelly attack, destroying everything, killing everyone, and there is no hope for escape.

This seems incongruous. However, it aligns to Habakkuk's line of questioning. Habakkuk calls attention to the behavior of Judah, a people who have devolved into total rebellion against the Lord. They commit every act of sin and oppression, with no path toward improvement. Habakkuk "calls for help" and wonders how long until the Lord listens (v2). Perhaps the help he wished for was more along the lines of a leader to correct the people. However, the people are well beyond that state.

Application: I know so many Christians who are praying for our people, our country, our land, our leaders. We point out systemic sin, evil, oppression, hatred, and conflict. We all seek God's redemption, reawakening, and revival of our nation and in fact of all people on all the earth. The ask of God is that he will bring his Spirit with great might, to stir the hearts of all and turn everyone back to him, his laws, and his love. God could do this ...

... or God could wipe our country away. He could do so with a wave of evil that will literally kill and destroy everything. He would certainly then wipe that evil out, but that is an action for later.

We seek the Lord's attention, asking him to see the circumstances around us, and call for his help. May we also have the faith to praise him when that help arrives to eliminate the evil, regardless what form it takes.

Prayer: Lord, you are in control, on your throne. You know the circumstances of the people in this land, and certainly you have plans for what will happen next. My your will be done. Amen.