Yesterday we began to study one of the most important verses in the whole Bible. We observed how Habakkuk finally understood that in order for a person to come to right thinking, he or she had to put away pride and self-sufficiency. Today we will consider how we are to live before God when our focus is no longer upon our understanding, but upon God Almighty who knows everything we need. Once again Habakkuk said in verse four of chapter two:
Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
The Chaldeans being used as instruments of judgment against the wicked of Israel went beyond Habakkuk’s understanding, and although God told him in advance that he would not believe His ways, Habakkuk listened to and argued with God and His choices. There are many times we do not understand all the ways of God. His ways are beyond our ways, and in fact, many times they go beyond our finding out. This is where the second part of our verse comes in: “but the just shall live by his faith.” In other words, just people live by faith. Faith is an indicator as to whether a person is just or not. We considered the importance of this truth to Paul the apostle as he wrote in Galatians chapter three and verse eleven:
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Paul the apostle had lived as a Pharisee among Pharisees who were the most religious people of his day. He lived outwardly by the laws of God, but inwardly Paul did not know God. Paul was following a religious system that was based upon man’s understanding of God and not a relationship with God that was based upon faith. Habakkuk and Paul came to understand that even when they did not understand the ways of God, God did. The Heavenly Father who is all-knowing is to be trusted in, relied upon, and clung to by those who will have a relationship with Him.
It is interesting how we are easy to believe those who have more knowledge than we when it comes to repairing our automobiles, medical care, home maintenance and other venues that require expertise, but when it comes to trusting God, we seem to have trouble. We trust our lighting systems even if we know nothing about electricity, and we certainly put a lot of faith in computers, cell phones and other technological devises even though we may not be able to understand how they work. Yet when we are without understanding with our omniscient God, we find difficulty in simply having faith in Him.
Habakkuk came to a place where he trusted God, and not his own understanding. As Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs in chapter three and verses five and six:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
If we are to have a relationship with God, we must come to Him in faith. All of our questions will not be answered otherwise it would not be by faith. Habakkuk and Paul understood that the wisest decision that we can ever make is to trust in a God who knows more than we do, understands more than we do, and has a better plan than we do or ever will have for our lives.
Next time we will begin to examine the vision that was given to Habakkuk to write down, 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
Ray Hanselman 