In these verses Habakkuk was taken back in the history of Israel. Cushan is in part of Arabia. Midian is in the same area. Both of those nations were afraid of Israel, as they travelled toward the land of Canaan. God gave amazing protection to the Hebrews as they travelled. They were not equipped for war and for the most part they did not need to fight. God put a fear into the people around them so that they did not bother them. God is good and He knows how to protect His people as He leads them in His way.
Over the past several days there have been massive riots in France. The news is telling us these riots are due to the killing of a seventeen year old teenager, by police. The news is making it seem as though the teenager was an innocent victim of “racism” by the police. The teenager was an Algerian immigrant. He was a Muslim. There are large numbers of Muslims that have moved into France. They do not want to assimilate, they want to keep their Muslim beliefs and they want to force those beliefs on France. The teenager that was killed was involved in a crime when he was shot. He already had a number of criminal charges against him at that time. The left wing media is not reporting this. They have already convicted the policeman of a crime. We do not know what the outcome of this will be yet, but we know that the riots were waiting for an opportunity and this was a “good” opportunity for these Algerians to try to destroy France.
This unrest is the result of people who do not know the Lord. It is not just that they do not know the Lord. It is that they do not want to know the Lord. France is a very secular and ungodly country. The Algerians are also a godless people who have chosen to believe a false religion. This is a warning to what could be coming to other countries as well.
Our country is far from a God-fearing country. We have a P.M. who loves those who hate this country and he also hates the Lord. He is not alone in that hatred. We can be thankful that God is merciful to us. We need to be praying for this country. Those who are saved need to walk humbly with the Lord and seek to help others to know the truth as well. We know that our justice system is turning a blind eye to much of the evil that is taking place in our country.
Habakkuk knew the past history of his people. He knew that God had protected them in the past. In verse 8 Habakkuk noted that God was not displeased with the rivers and the sea in the time that Israel was being prepared to leave Egypt. God turned the river into blood and He parted the Red Sea for the nation of Israel as they left Egypt. He used that same Sea to destroy the army of Egypt. God demonstrated His power and authority against the wickedness of the enemies of Israel. Habakkuk understood that God had been very good to Israel in the past. In this short book, Habakkuk has been complaining to God about things he is observing. He was directed by God to write the things he wrote. God shows us how even His people often think. We can get off course and assume that God is not being just.
We know in chapter three, Habakkuk was reminding God of His need to be merciful to Israel. God did not need to be reminded of how He needed to behave. God always acts in a right way. We can be very short-sighted and assume that God should act differently than He does. Habakkuk was changed by God in this short book. He was a man of God and that is what makes the difference.
The wicked continue on their rampages. The saved might get into a spiritual slump, but God brings them through that. They have the ability to learn important lessons from the Lord.
We see again the importance of knowing the true God. He brings stability into a person’s life. There are so many practical benefits to being saved. This is important to consider.
Those who are on the outside of God’s salvation, are facing all the challenges of life on their own. God wants to bless man. He knows how to do this. God had blessed Israel in many ways in the past. He had been very patient with them. Yet they continuously chose to reject Him. Due to their continuous rebellion against Him, He needed to punish them. They did not like the punishment and did not want to learn from the punishment. They did not understand true love and thus they looked at other nations and saw how they seemed to do quite well without knowing God. They looked at life from a very shortsighted position.
What is the blessing in having things, and not knowing the Lord? The lost do not have God as their Friend. They do not know the forgiveness of sin that comes from knowing the true God and Saviour. In the end, they do not have a home in heaven. All the pleasures of this world are gone at the moment of death. For the lost they face an eternity in hell and then the lake of fire. It is not worth rejecting the true God.
Habakkuk was learning the real issue here and he could be thankful that God was being merciful with him as well. We can also be thankful that God is merciful with those who are saved. He shows us that He knows what He is doing and we can be thankful that He is in control. Those that are lost need to see the importance of turning to Him. Those who are saved have the privilege of being a testimony of God’s mercy and grace in the midst of a perverse generation.
Let us glorify the true God today.
Pastor Bartel