How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrong?

Habakkuk 1:2-3

Habakkuk—one of those books in the Bible I need the index to find, and cannot spell unless I pronounce each “k” separately. Mercy me! In the days before the southern kingdom fell to Babylon (586 BC), the prophet Habakkuk’s heart was broken over the apparent triumph of evil over righteousness. Decency and peace were crumbling everywhere. Kind of makes us think of society today.

So why in the world was God tolerating such violence, such injustice, such wrong? Why was He letting the wicked hem in the righteous so that justice is perverted? (1:4). The dialogue between Habakkuk and the LORD is intense as he asks the questions for us. Why God? Why?

Through the fog of fear, remembering the goodness of God becomes key. Habakkuk was in dire need of words like those of Moses on the brink of the Promised Land: “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).  

Oswald Chambers* picks up that thought: “(If) God says—'I will never leave you,’ then I can with good courage say—‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear.’” The writer of Hebrews adds to God’s say-so: “What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6).

What indeed can man do to us? We take a deep breath spiritually in the face of the wrongs and injustices that persist around us and trust in His plan.

It’s a matter of faith, as Babbie Mason sings in the chorus of Trust His Heart, 2001:

God is too wise to be mistaken

God is too good to be unkind

So when you don't understand

When you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand

Trust His Heart

Nancy P

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

*Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, June 5th