Habakkuk is unique in the minor prophets. While we tend to think of prophets speaking for God, Habakkuk is primarily a record of speaking with God. Habakkuk comes to God with two questions, “how long?” and “why?” We can relate as we look around us and see all the suffering, injustice, oppression and evil. We find ourselves asking the same questions, “Why doesn’t God do something?” or “How long will my prayers go unheard?” If God is good, what about evil?

Habakkuk complains to God that evil is running rampant in Israel and God doesn’t seem to care. He sees evil, but God seems blind (1). He cries to God and God seems deaf (2). Suddenly however, God answers. He explains that he is already at work and it is Habakkuk who is blind. God says he is doing something unbelievable: bringing Babylon to come and exact judgment on Israel. Babylon the pagan. Babylon the cruel (3). Babylon the wicked. God even throws Habakkuk’s complaint back at him, in Israel justice never goes forth (4), in Babylon, their justice does go forth but as they define it (5). God even points out that Babylon worships their own strength and will take the credit for all they do (6).

God was right. Habakkuk could not believe that this was God’s plan. He was afraid of the cancer of Israel’s evil, but who needs cancer with a cure like this? Habakkuk’s concern was that Good looked idly at Israel wickedness (7), so how can he take confidence in the fact that judgment is coming if God looks idly at the wickedness of his instrument (8)? Wasn’t Babylon even more deserving of judgment that Israel (9)? Will God allow Babylon to keep devouring nations and not bring them to justice10? Once again Habakkuk awaits an answer, and once again God speaks.