Living
By Faith
By Susan Klein
“Behold, as for the
proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his
faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4b (NASB)
Some
believe that Martin Luther’s reformation was brought about as a result of how
this verse pierced his heart. The Apostle Paul, also deeply impacted by this
passage, quoted it in two of his letters. But it was the prophet Habakkuk who
first received the words from God Himself.
Habakkuk
was perplexed. Surrounded by sin and violence, he repeatedly cried out to God
for help, yet God did not choose to intervene. In fact, He allowed the
evildoers to continue. It seemed unfair to Habakkuk that God would use these
wicked heathen to destroy people more righteous than they. As God eventually
revealed His divine plan to Habakkuk, He told him two very important things; 1)
to wait for His plan to unfold, and 2) to trust His perfect plan.
Like
Habakkuk, when tragic and unjust things happen, our thoughts can turn toward
wondering where God is. “If You are as You claim - - omnipotent, righteous,
just and loving - - why do You not intervene? Why must the righteous suffer and
the evildoers seem to go unpunished?” His words to the prophet deliver a
powerful answer. “Look among the nations!
Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days that
you would not believe if you were told” (1:5). He goes on to tell Habakkuk
in the following chapter that His plan “is
for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though
it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay” (2:3). His loving affirmation speaks volumes of
comfort to His prophet.
We,
too, must believe that even though we don’t understand the cruel happenings
around us, God’s plan is unfolding at its appointed time. He may not choose to
reveal all the details to us, but we must put off skepticism, reject reliance
on our emotions, and exercise our faith by waiting and trusting.
Habakkuk
ends his oracle with a prayer. While waiting patiently on the Lord, he humbly
admits to fear and trembling, but ultimately chooses to exult in the Lord, and
rejoice in the God of (his) salvation (3:16-18). He chooses to live by his faith.
For He Himself has
said, “I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you,” so that we confidently
say, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?”
(Hebrews 13:5-6)
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Are you despairing over worldly tragedies or doubting God’s handling of them?
How might you formulate a different response in light of this passage?
FURTHER
READING:
Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator
and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark lead a couples' small group
in their home; she is also involved in inner city outreach.
