God has Reasons

Based on Habakkuk 1-3

"Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention."
Habakkuk 1:3.

I'm sure we've spent a little time here & there questioning the things we are going thtough... especially now! Everything we see on the news is pretty much negative, and not very uplifting. But we need to keep reminding ourselves that God is using times like these! He has reasons! In the people of Judah's case in this book of Habakkuk, it was to change & correct their ways. We also should examine whether or not it's US that needs a heart change, too!

Here was God's answer to Habakkuk about why he was having to see all this violence and shame:

"Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you. For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs." Habakkuk 1:5‭-‬6.

God was going to raise up the Chaldeans against them, and this was the reason why:

"Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction." Habakkuk 1:12.

Habakkuk realized that these oppressors were really being used to correct their ways, most likely to bring them to a desperate point to get the people of Judah closer to God once again.

"And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
Habakkuk 2:2‭-‬3.

So Habakkuk obeyed God and wrote the vision which He gave him. He understood that God has magnificent reasons for the things He does, all with our good in mind! God is not out there to destroy us. In fact, He is out there to keep us from destroying ourselves!

And so, amidst this corrective judgment which will come, Habakkuk prays:

"A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."
Habakkuk 3:1‭-‬2.

"In wrath, remember mercy." Just like in Nahum, God is a merciful God, but we need to stick with God and not turn away from mercy! We need to seek His mercy in these times of correction & judgment. We need to check our hearts to see whether or not WE need a change. God has reasons for what He does. He loves us, and there's always more to learn of Him and more ways we can improve. Our God is an awesome God!