Trust in Jehovah and Live! - LISTEN TO JEHOVAH

Read Habakkuk 1:5-7.  After leaving his worries and concerns in Jehovah's hands,  Habakkuk may have wondered how Jehovah would react.  As an empathetic and understanding Father, Jehovah did not rebuke him for his sincere complaint.  God knew that it was a desperate cry of pain and sorrow.  In words really aimed at the wayward Jews, Jehovah informed Habakkuk of what would happen in the near future. It could well be that Habakkuk was the first to whom Jehovah revealed that the end of that violent era was very near.

Jehovah showed Habakkuk that He was ready to act.  The punishment of that violent and wicked generation was imminent.  By the expression "in your days," Jehovah indicated that this judgment would definitely occur during the lifetime of the prophet or that of his contemporaries.    Jehovah's reply was not at all what Habakkuk expected.  Was this the answer to his impatient cry?  What Jehovah told him surely meant that the suffering would increase for all of Judah.  The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were ruthless and brutal, more violent than Habakkuk's own people, who at least knew Jehovah's standards.  Why would Jehovah use this cruel pagan nation to bring calamity to his people?  How would you have reacted after hearing this divine response?

Read Habakkuk 1:12-14, 17. Habakkuk understood that Jehovah would use Babylon to judge and punish the evildoers surrounding him, but he was still perplexed. Yet, he humbly told Jehovah that He continued to be his "Rock." (Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 26:4) Habakkuk would patiently continue to trust in God's love and kindness.  The prophet's resolve gave him the confidence to appeal to Jehovah again. Why would God allow conditions in Judah to get even worse?  Why would not act right away?  Why would the Almighty tolerate even more distress? Would would he "keep silent" when wickedness took over?  He is the "Holy One"; his "eyes are too pure to look on what is evil."

At times, we may feel as Habakkuk. We listen to Jehovah. With full trust, we read and study his Word, and this give us hope.  We hear about his promises through the instruction of  that his organization provides. But we may still wonder. 'When will our afflictions end?  What can we learn from what Habakkuk did next?

Next time: Trust in Jehovah and Live! - WAIT ON JEHOVAH

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