Habakkuk - Tossed by Waves of Doubt

(So glad you are here! If you want to take full advantage of this study, I would suggest either printing out the lessons or having a journal nearby to answer the questions. I'll post new lessons twice a week - Wednesday/Friday. Would love feedback! I'm a first-timer at this!)

There’s a sea that can be wider than the Atlantic and deeper than the Pacific. 

Its waves can be perilous - pulling us away from the shore, tossing us round and round till we don’t know up from down.

Author Kathe Wunnenburg calls it the “Sea of Why.”

Our good ‘ole friend Habakkuk has found himself drowning in the “Sea of Why,” hasn’t he? 

Why does God allow wickedness to flourish? 

Why does He not establish justice? 

Why is He allowing Babylon to take over Judah?

And we have all swum in the sea as well.

“Why did God take her at such a young age?” “Why am I still not married?” “Why did my husband leave me, my boss fire me, my friend hurt me …?”

The Sea of Why is alright to wade in for a while. 

We’ve already chatted about how asking this question to God is not only normal but very permissable. But when we swim out into the the Sea of Why too far, it can suck us into its rolling tide.

When I was going through grief, I found that the only way I could find any sanity, find my way back to the shoreline was my changing that ‘y’ in “Why” to an ‘o.’

Kathe Wunnenburg says it like this: “Choose to look beyond the “why” and to the “Who.”’

That’s what we see Habakkuk doing in today’s reading. 

Yes, he still whines. 

And yes, we still see him shaking his fists at God. 

But c’mon. Doesn’t it take all of us a while to relinquish the fists? 

Just another way I relate to this guy, Habakkuk.

BUT … Habakkuk adds something to his complaints.

He adds some “Who” to that “why.” 

Habakkuk starts professing WHO God is. Professing what he knows about God. 

And I can’t help but wonder if that puts a little sand under his feet ...

READ

Take a moment to read Habakkuk 1:12-2:1. (Yay! We finally get out of chapter 1!)

RESPOND

How do Habakkuk’s questions in v.12 differ from the questions in previous verses? How would you describe his tone?

Habakkuk opens up his dialogue with what seems to be a different tone. Is this a new Habakkuk we are seeing. (Well … hold your horses.)

He opens up by proclaiming WHO God is, what he knows about God.

What language does Habakkuk use in vs. 12 to describe God? 

List his descriptors and names for God:

In the previous verse (v.11) God had just accused the Babylonians of being guilty because who was their God? “Their own might.” Along with their might, came their gods made of wood and stone.

John MacArthur says, it’s as if Habakkuk goes from that verse (v.11) to this one (v.12) saying,"Wait a minute.  Their god, what is their god?  What is he?  Wood and stone? Why my God is eternal, from everlasting, that I know."  He's not like the god of the Chaldeans.  He's not like the god of any man or any nation.  He is God from eternity to eternity.”

So Habakkuk calls God eternal, everlasting. But he doesn’t stop there.

He keeps going, calling God “my God” (v.12).

What does that personal pronoun “my” imply?

The original Hebrew behind that phrase, “my Lord,” in verse 12 is Yahweh.

So Habakkuk addresses God by His personal name that He gave to the Israelites, “Yahweh.”

God first told Moses to call him by that name. It was a name set apart for His people Israel. And it was a name that meant I AM, embodying eternity. He always will be. 

Habakkuk then goes on to call God “my holy One” and his “Rock.”

We will jump back to v.12 but for now, write down more descriptors that Habakkuk uses for God in v.13:

Soon, the worshipful names of God abruptly collides back into the “Why’s” in verse 13, doesn’t it? 

For a while I was led to believe that maybe Habakkuk had a heart change, calling God these beautiful names, but if anything, Habakkuk may have just charged God even more harshly.

What does he charge God of doing in 1:14?

“The prophet charged the Lord with reducing humans to the level of fish or insect and causing chaos among the nations.” (Quoting from my New Illustrated Bible Commentary).

We really see Habakkuk’s big guns come out in this statement. 

I picture Habakkuk slipping on one of those big foam fingers you get at sporting events, aiming it at heaven. 

“You treat us like we mean nothing to you! You aren’t even in control!”

So what happened?! How does Habakkuk go from pronouncing these beautiful names of God to accusing him more harshly than before? How would you interpret this?

I don’t know the answer. And I’m curious to read your thoughts (so comment below). 

Maybe Habakkuk’s names for God were in a more sarcastic tone all along.

Or maybe Habakkuk was grasping for the sand in the Sea of Why, reminding himself of whom God was, but the reminder was painful. Painful because God didn’t seem to be living up to those names Habakkuk believed in all along.

I can relate to this heart tug-of-war Habakkuk has with God, can’t you?

Who is the “he” Habakkuk is referring to in 1:15-17?

I wanted to make sure and address this because this pronoun “he” confused me. 

Habakkuk has gone from describing what God is doing (treating them like fish or worms in verse 14) to describing how the Babylonians would treat the Judeans in verse 15-17.

We see how mercilessly the Babylonians were going to treat Judah, hooking and catching them in their net, and then worship their success (v.16).

This fear of the enemy and distrust in God, moves Habakkuk to make a bold move in 2:1.

What does Habakkuk say he will do in 2:1?

Probably metaphorically, Habakkuk stations himself like a watchman in a watchtower or on the city wall that protects God’s people, to look out at the nations, at what is to come. 

Didn’t God ask him to do this in 1:5?

How would you describe Habakkuk’s demeanor in this verse (2:1)?

REFLECT

John Macarthur says, “I'll tell you there's nothing more reassuring, there's nothing more consoling, there's nothing more helpful than in the midst of a time of oppression … when your mind is boggled by the happenings in the world today … than to stand back on solid ground and say, "One thing I know - that my God is eternal."

Habakkuk opens up our reading by describing God’s holiness and eternity. How would proclaiming who God is change your perspective, maybe even alleviate your burdens? Try to be specific to your circumstance. How would it affect your everyday life?

On one hand we see Habakkuk reminding himself of who God is, and on another hand, we see that he is hurt by God not living up to those names. 

I’ve felt that way before - like God was abandoning His character. 

But that is a lie from the enemy. 

Satan wants us to distrust the only One worth trusting. 

To stifle that lie, let’s look at some other verses.

Write down what the following verses say about God. Then circle the one you most needed today and write down why.

Psalm 103:17

1 John 1:5

Exodus 34:6-7

Isaiah 40:22

Hebrews 13:8

Habakkuk ends our reading today with one of the most interesting passages in 2:1. What can we learn from this verse? Can we apply anything from it to our own lives?

Habakkuk finds sure footing amidst the Sea of Why, stationing himself, planting himself in a position to hear from God.

Habakkuk remembers who he is - that he is a prophet of God.

The verb, “look” (“ I will look to see what He will say to me”) is “applied figuratively to the prophets, who as Israel’s watchmen were to see the Lord’s purposes and communicate them.” (Quoting from my Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

He’s also in submission to God. In the second half of the verse, we read Habakkuk admitting that he has been complaining, expecting God to address his sassy attitude.

Another key observation to note in this verse is that he remembers who God is - that He is a God that not only listens but responds, that He has all the answers.

Remember.

It’s a key word to help us find sure footing in the sand as we’re tossed about the Sea of Why.

Remember Who God is. Start reminding yourself of the verses we read about God’s character. Remember He is in charge, He is bigger than us, faithful, always good.

Remember who you are. You are God’s child. Not His pawn, His puppet, His pet fish that He forgets to feed. No. You are His beloved daughter.

And just as Habakkuk remembers his submission, so should we. As daughters, we should be in submission to our Father’s authority. This humility is crucial to trust.  

So next time we are tossed around in doubt and confusion, let’s stop. Get quiet. Start to remember. 

And let's if we begin to feel the sand harden under our feet.

“I remember your name in the night, O Lord” (Psalm 119:55).

PRAY

In this prayer time, let’s exercise remembering.

Remember who God is. Thank God for who He is to you.

Now remember who you are. Thank God for who you are in God’s eyes.

Remember that you are in submission to God’s plan. Ask God to help you surrender your control to His.

Finally, do what Habakkuk does - expect God to speak to you. Get quiet. See if He has anything to whisper to your heart. If you don’t hear anything, that’s okay! Just acknowledging that He is a God who speaks is enough.

Looking Ahead 

Next time we will be talking through Habakkuk 2:2-20, so feel free to go ahead and read it, observe it, even study it.

(All references come from the New Illustrated Bible Commentary, John MacArthur's website at www.gty.org and the Expositor's Bible Commentary)