What if…?

What if the worst thing imaginable happened to you? No one wants to imagine this, but it could happen. What if the world around you collapses? Again, who wants to go here? Not me. However, in the Bible we are given insight on how we should respond if something like this were to happen. Consider this small story.

Habakkuk and His What if… Story

Habakkuk was a prophet. He served as a prophet during the latter half of the Old Testament. He was a prophet for Judah. As one of the minor prophets, his letter occurs not long before the Babylonians’ siege and capture of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Habakkuk likely prophesied in the first five years of Jehoiakim’s reign (609–598 BC). He was begging for God’s mercy during his dialogue with God (chapters 1-2). He responds to God’s answer in chapter 3. Habakkuk wrote to a prideful people who were facing judgment by God while a righteous people live by faith (2:4).

Habakkuk’s Conclusion – You Do Not Want To Miss This

Read and consider what Habakkuk said to God after he understood the significance of the judgment coming upon Judah over the pride and disobedience of the people.

16 When I heard, my body trembled;
My lips quivered at the voice;
Rottenness entered my bones;
And I trembled in myself,
That I might rest in the day of trouble.
When he comes up to the people,
He will invade them with his troops.

17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Notice how he responds.

  1. Initially, he is fearful. When he hears what is going to happen from God, Habakkuk trembles. He hates it for his people. The prophet longs for them to repent.
  2. He describes the conditions of his following God. Even if the world collapses around him, he will still rejoice in God. If there are no figs, no fruit, no olives, no food in the fields, the flocks are gone, and the herds gone, the world has collapsed around him. Yet, he claims he will still rejoice in God.
  3. Why? Because he understands that even when things around him are very bad, God is still his strength. God enables him to respond to the evil and tough circumstances around him.

What an incredible response. This type of response to a world falling apart around you takes so much humility, faith, and knowledge of God’s character. In chapter one, he asks God hard questions. Habakkuk can not figure God’s plan out. Yet, by the end, he humbly submits to God’s plan even though it is tough and hard.

What about you?

Our world is a bit crazy right now. Things seem out of hand on multiple fronts around America and the world. Plus, there are always your own personal concerns. What if…? What if the worse things happen? Consider these questions:

  1. How do you respond to evil? Does evil around you in our world and culture break your heart like it did this prophets?
  2. How do you respond to God’s character and work?
    Are you impatient?
    Do you despair?
    Do you judge God?
    What about God’s work, do you miss what God is doing?
  3. Will you choose instead to wait on the Lord and be strengthened in His power regardless of what happens around you?

 

Image Credit Jonathan Rados 

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