Why? A Study of the Book of Habakkuk

Is humankind at the threshold of the end of this biblical age? Are the signs of the times in which humanity lives today revealing the conditions that will exist and set the stage for the corrupt one-world ruler and government spoken of by Daniel and confirmed by the apostle John in the book of Revelation? Will humankind again begin to question the Lord about why He allows all the corruption and violence and immorality to happen and overwhelm His believers? If so, will humanity once again see the moving of God’s hand as in the days of Habakkuk, which will again require the same watching, waiting, and worshipping attitude that the prophet had? Will faith prevail among the Christians of today, leading to the revival that Habakkuk asked for and that many around the world are crying out for today? All these questions are yet to be answered, but they seem valid for the generation in which we are living today.
For one to grasp the vastness of such a faith as Habakkuk’s, as Abraham’s, and as that of many others in the Bible, one must take a detailed look at chapter 2, which shows the struggle of striving for an unwavering faith. First, Habakkuk turns from his initial feeling of worry and takes a position of watching and waiting to see things from a very different perspective. Many times, one has to try to see things through the eyes of God and to get above the situation in the world today if one is to have any hope of seeing these things for what they really are. Like a military lookout who stands guard for his fellow soldiers and sounds the alarm should any trouble or special situation arise, Habakkuk takes a stand on his watchtower to see what God may say or do. It is only after he turns from his state of concern and worry that Habakkuk is able to hear from God as He delivers His message. How often it is that human beings are so caught up in the day-to-day hustle and bustle that they miss out on time with God and, thus, miss out on a blessing. Too often it takes troubled times to cause a person to turn his or her eyes back to the One who holds all the answers and controls every situation to be encountered. Habakkuk himself had to step back from the circumstances to be able to see and hear what God had in store for him. In fact, God spoke volumes to him about the events and times to come, saying that His Word always rings true even if in the eyes of humankind, it seems to be delayed or absent from the current state of affairs.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3)

The prophet now had to take a position of watching and of waiting for God to work out His plan over the course of time and make known His purpose. When one does not receive answers as quickly as one would hope, then one must allow faith to take hold and control one’s thoughts and actions, as going into the unknown is often quite difficult and, at times, scary. In the meantime, Habakkuk was given the task of spreading God’s message so the people would see at least a portion of the road map God had laid out for the people of Israel and the plan He had for delivering His people and destroying the enemy—all of which were part of the same purpose.