Would you consider yourself to be a rebel?

I think most people would not consider themselves rebels. We tend to reserve the title of rebel to a two year old or to someone who has tattoos, wears a biker jacket, has crazy colored spike hair, piercing from head to toe and overall seems to be a defiant person.

Since our bodies are tattoo free and we don’t have a biker jacket in our closet we would consider ourselves not to be rebellious. Neither did the Israelites, yet that was the farthest from the truth.

God’s definition of rebellion would not include any of the above with one exception, defiance. When you intentionally leave God out of the details of your life you are being defiant.

The story contained in the three chapters of Habakkuk is about a defiant nation.  It is about a nation dominated by immorality, idolatry, strife, outbursts of anger, drunkenness, lewdness, etc.  To make matters worse evil seemed to be triumphing over good and that the wicked seemed to be winning.

Habakkuk, being a prophet of God naturally was struggling with what he saw. Habakkuk was saddened and troubled by the violence and corruption he saw within God’s chosen people and so he brought his concerns or should I say complaints to God.

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help,
but You do not listen?”

Sounds like the world hasn’t changed much since Habakkuk complained to God in 600 BC.  With few exceptions, which I wish I could think of one, Habakkuk’s world and our world seems to be like an airplane at an air show which is spinning out of control as it nose dives toward the face of the earth. With each passing second the plane gets closer and closer to the ground, and as it does, doubt starts to creep in as to whether the pilot will be able to pull the plane out of it free fall in time.

What are you and I to do?  Are you willing to trust God even when you don’t understand what He is doing or allowing to happen?  Are you willing to trust God’s plan and Word that He will judge evildoers in His time?  Are you willing to accept God’s answer and wait His timing?

Can you imagine the shock of Habakkuk when he learned that God was going to respond to Israel’s waywardness by

“raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people…?”

God told the inhabitants of Jerusalem that they were going to be utterly amazed at what was about to happen. The people would see a series of unbelievable events.  Most importantly their own independent and prosperous kingdom would suddenly become a vassal nation.  Habakkuk was appalled to think that God would use Babylon a nation much more wicked than Judah to punish Judah.

Is Habakkuk’s reaction any different then the reaction of many American’s when it was alluded to that 911 was God’s judgment or punishment on the United States because we have turned away from God.

As much as it hurts to admit it America and Americans are more about glorifying self than glorifying God. Why should we not expect God to treat us and our sinfulness in a similar manor or way that He treated His chosen people?  God told us up front,

“I am a jealous God
you shall have no other God’s before me.”

That includes self and patriotism.  Bottom line, if we are deserving of correction or punishment how can we complain about the kind of ‘rod’ God uses on us.

Let’s face it what child ever thinks his parent’s punishment for his or her misbehavior is ever fair and just?  When I was sent to my room or had a privilege taken away I was not thinking about how bad I was but rather how unfair my parents were.  Why I am sure our thoughts probably reflected those of Habakkuk,

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help,
but You do not listen?”

As unhappy as Habakkuk was Habakkuk trusted that God would direct all things according to His purpose.  Evil and justice seemed to have the upper hand.  Habakkuk felt angry and discouraged by what he saw.  Habakkuk complained vigorously to God and God answered.  Habakkuk’s complaints became praises.

“Lord, I have heard of Your fame;
I stand in awe of Your deeds,
O Lord.  Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known,
in wrath remember mercy.”

Habakkuk praised God for answering his question, evil will not triumph.  God will vindicate those who are faithful to Him.  Habakkuk knew God was going to discipline and His discipline was not going to be pleasant.  However he prayed to accept it and asked God for help by being merciful.  Notice, nowhere in this book do we find Habakkuk praying to escape God’s wrath.  Instead he accepted God’s discipline and asked God to help change the hearts of God’s people.  That is the purpose of prayer, not to change God but for God to change the person who is praying.  Let’s look at how Habakkuk changed.  He started out complaining to God,

Like Habakkuk you and I cannot allow our feelings to be controlled by the events around us, but by faith in God’s ability to give us strength.  When life doesn’t make sense and it often doesn’t take your eyes off your difficulties and your circumstances and look to God.  You can count on God to provide for you. God will provide you with the strength of His Spirit.  You can be confident in God’s ultimate victory over evil.