Most anyone who is familiar with American History knows the famous words spoken by Paul Revere, “The British are Coming! The British are coming!”, and so goes the warning of the enemy against those who fought in the American Revolution. Well today we find a warning coming from God above to Habakkuk about His solution to the iniquities that were abounding in his world. This answer from God is so mind-blowing to Habakkuk that God warned him ahead of time that he would not believe His answer to the troubles Habakkuk saw. Habakkuk continues God's words to him in verse six of chapter one where he wrote:
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places [that are] not theirs.
Habakkuk has been wondering why God is not responding to all the wickedness that he sees. He has made an assessment that God isn't concerned, and he is wondering how long all of this will last. God told Habakkuk that he had knowledge of all these things, and he had a plan for working them out but His plan would be one that Habakkuk would not believe even if he told him. Today's verse reveals that plan. God said, “For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans.” These were the people of Babylon, and they were a very evil nation. In other words, God chose a nation that was more wicked than the people of Judah to bring judgment upon them. God describes the Chaldeans as, “that bitter and hasty nation.” Their very existence depended upon attitudes of bitterness, anger and strife. They were quick to respond and defeat any foe, and those who rose up against them were quick to be defeated.
God then told Habakkuk what this nation of Chaldeans would do, “which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not theirs.” These vicious people were going to conquer the people surrounding Habakkuk. The evil that Habakkuk saw would very quickly come to judgment as the Chaldeans were not only going to come to conquer them, but they would also occupy their very houses. Though these dwelling places did not belong to the Chaldeans, they would now be living in them.
What would it be like for us today if God pronounced judgment was coming upon our nation? What if He declared that because of all the evil that is around us, He had chosen a nation that is more wicked than we to judge us? What if He told us that this wicked nation would not only defeat us, but also take over and live within our houses? Can we imagine the feelings that Habakkuk must have had? Now, to take it a step further, what if God declared that this has been His plan all along for punishing disobedience to His law? How would we feel about God then?
There is one thing for sure, we live within a time of great grace from God. At any time God could send judgment upon our nation, but for now He has withheld His hand and has not judged to the degree of Habakkuk's day. Maybe our thoughts and prayers should be for our nation today as we consider what was to be the fate of Israel. The Chaldeans did indeed come to conquer and possess their land, and if we are wise we will examine our own lives in light of the judgment that came upon them that their fate may not be our own.
Next time we will look at more of the traits of the Chaldeans, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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