The fierceness and intimidation of an opponent often depends upon the power they possess within themselves. If they are stronger, mightier, and more well equipped for battle, their very presence may cause flight. Such was the case with the Chaldeans whom God had strengthened to be the agent of justice against a wicked group of people in Israel. Habakkuk's confusion has been as to why God appears to do nothing about all the evil he sees, and now God is revealing to him His plan for dealing with Habakkuk's trouble. God continues His description of His representatives in verse eight of chapter one:
Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle [that] hastes to eat.
Horses and horsemen gave particularly distinct advantage to the army who had them in Habakkuk's day. God first warns Habakkuk that the Chaldean's horses are “swifter than leopards”. If any of us have anything to do with cats, we realize how quick a cat can be. The average leopard runs at thirty-five miles per hour, and yet God says these horses are faster than them. Imagine trying to flee from huge horses running at that kind of pace.
Next God says these Chaldean horses are “more fierce than the evening wolves”. Wolves often strike with mighty force in the middle of the night. Their terror is more prevalent in the evening especially if they have not eaten within the day. They are ravenous and care not for any destruction or damage they may cause while they bid upon and conquer their prey. These were no ordinary lot of horses for sure.
Next Habakkuk writes “and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far”. There will not be just a few horsemen involved. There will be so many that they will be able to spread themselves as to cover a wider range of territory. The ability for an opponent to spread out with more than ample supply of weapons gives them a distinct advantage when engagement comes. There are so many Chaldean horsemen that they can draw them to battle from far distances to insure that defeat of their enemies will be swift and sure.
Finally Habakkuk records God's last description of these horses and horsemen. He wrote, “they shall fly as the eagle that hastes to eat.” Hunger is a powerful drive in us, and it is in animals and birds as well. Sustenance of life depends upon it. God uses the powerful and swift eagle that is starving as His description of the Chaldean horsemen. They are powerful, quick, mighty and strong, and they have a desire to destroy that is as passionate as a hungry eagle. This must have been horribly frightening for Habakkuk to hear.
Let us not be so involved in Habakkuk's story as to forget that we too have a fierce opponent that is against us. God is able to use anyone He desires to bring judgment upon whomever He will, but in our case we have a fierce enemy who would love to conquer us. Satan often comes as swift as a leopard, and haunts us in the evening with fearful thoughts like the evening wolves. He also attempts to spread himself into many areas of our lives, and determines to devour us like the hungry eagle. We must be on our guard by relying upon our relationship with our Heavenly Father lest we be devoured by his pernicious ways. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him or we too would be nothing but conquered folks just as the people of Israel were about to be.
Next time we shall see more of the description of this fierce Chaldean army, 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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