Why?

5 

     The prophet scratched his beard, sighing in frustration. Sometimes, frequently, he found the Lord frustrating. It seemed as if the Lord never gave him the answer he sought. Habakkuk looked out across his nation in despair. So often it seemed that God did not care. Everywhere Habakkuk looked he saw wickedness and violence. Judah seemed beset by wanton iniquity within and powerful enemies without. Unremitting pressures from the powerful and wealthy ground the feeble into dust. It appeared that either God did not care or was too infirm to stay the hand of evil men; both of which the prophet could not accept. Perhaps; and this too seemed incomprehensible, God had retired from active work in the world, leaving it to unwind on its own. Yet, as he looked over the parchment, his most recent missive, he felt deep within that all of those did not represent God at all. Sighing, he collected his pen, ink, parchment, and thoughts. Soon the soft scratching of pen on velum filled the quiet room as Habakkuk’s chaotic thoughts and feelings coalesced into words.

5 “Look among the nations, and see;

    wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days

    that you would not believe if told. Habakkuk 1:5 (ESV)

     Today we often look out into our world, wondering if God has schlepped off to the great “man-cave” in heaven to watch reruns of The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days on the real big screen. Maybe, He, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have their feet up and are munching on pizza, popcorn, and Doritos? Like Habakkuk we look out on a landscaped filled with sin and depravity. It seems as if powerful forces rage unchecked across the globe. Where is God, why does He not act? Sometimes we crave a Jobesque audience with God.

     Job, in the midst of great suffering and pain, demands a bit of face-time with God. And God shows up. He and Job engage in a bit of chit-chat with Job demanding an answer to the perplexing problems of his suffering. A careful reading reveals that God never truly answers Job. God says, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

     Job replies, “⁴Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵ I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” Job 40:2-5

     God continues challenging Job and Job finally says, “⁵ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; ⁶ therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6.

     So what am I, a twenty-first century American to make of these ancient men who grappled with God and His often inscrutable ways? How can the three of us relate? Do these two speak across millennia and miles to me, sitting at my kitchen table in West Texas? Yes, I believe they do.

     I need to put my faith and trust in God. We often speak of getting to see the big replay in heaven. I’m not so sure we do and I am even more convinced that we could not fully grasp the span, depth, and strategy of God. Both Habakkuk and Job seek an explanation from God and both get a different answer than they wanted. God responds to Job by revealing His creative might, asking Job where he was when God did all these things. God tells Habakkuk that he could not take it all in; it’s just too big for Habakkuk’s finite mind.

     As a child and partaker of our modern enlightenment influenced culture, I tend to place a great trust in my ability to think through any problem or quandary. If I study hard, get myself into a good quite place with some West-Coast Jazz in the background, and a good cup of coffee at hand I will uncover the solution to almost any problem. My life, personal and professional, has fully convinced me of this truth. No problem is without a solution. But God, through His prophets, teaches something else.

     While loving, compassionate, and caring, always seeking my best, God does not owe me an answer to all my questions. He reveals enough to bring me to faith, but periodically reminds me that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are higher than mine. I do not believe this allows me to give a spiritual shrug and walk away from seemingly intractable problems. God still expects me to lift my hand to the task at hand, working to further His kingdom as I understand it. But, God’s purview is larger than mine and as He reminds us through Habakkuk, “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” He is great. He’s got many irons in the fire. And He says, as we say in the Army, “Watch your lanes.”