“Putting an entirely reasonable question to God”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Sunday, October 2, 2022
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 (Forward, p. 65) CEV p. 953
Habakkuk could well be from our modern times, a contemporary, in terms of what he has to say to God. Indeed, he is questioning God, uttering a complaint about how God has ordered things, or at very least, allowed things to be. Just listen to his gripe and note how very current it sounds:
“Our Lord, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence? Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere? Laws cannot be enforced, justice is always the loser; criminals crowd out honest people and twist the laws around” (verses 2-4).
Incredible: he could just as easily be speaking of our current situation, our modern world, for that is exactly how many of us often feel. However, there is possibly one large, one huge, difference between us and Habakkuk. Habakkuk makes this a matter of prayer and actually demands--and expects—an answer from God, whereas we often just gripe and complain between ourselves and never bring God into the picture at all. Somehow, we are too ‘civilized’ in terms of being tame, too polite, too bashful, in our relations and interactions with God. We would never even dream of making demands of God or holding Him to account. But Habakkuk does. And furthermore, Habakkuk knows better than expect an immediate answer or response. He is prepared to wait upon God’s good timing.
But then notice, in chapter 2, Habakkuk actually gets an answer, a response. And what does God say? He says that He will indeed correct things, bring about justice and hold those evil doers to account, but it will take time. So, in the meantime, He says, just keep on waiting, and trusting. Indeed, He says, only those who live by faith, faith in Himself, will be saved, will be counted as acceptable to Himself.
So, this is the answer to our queries as well. Just hold on, and trust. Just wait for the Lord’s good timing. Trust in God, and trust that He will ultimately pull it all off.
So, is there anything else that we can do in the meantime? Well, certainly, we can pray and ask God ‘those hard questions’: God can take it, and our prayers certainly don’t hurt. And, one other thing? We later learn that God will use some human agents, even some pretty unexpected and surprising ones, to bring about the changes He desires. So then, this is something to consider: just who might God be using just now to affect His will in the world? Could it possibly be even us? Something to think and pray about. Amen.
Forward notes: “Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith” (chapter 2, verse 4).
“We’ve been blessed to have lived in several states and have always been fortunate to find an Episcopal church to call home.
“Over the years, when I’ve talked with lay leaders and clergy about how our churches function, we routinely land on those humble, righteous members who just make things happen. These are, of course, the members of the altar guild and the ushers but also the folks who clean up after fellowship events and those who file the choir music. The righteous include the people who arrive early and shovel snow, open the doors, repair the dishwasher, take out the trash, call the missing, take the bulletins to the shut-ins, and listen while others, well, rant. Sometimes they’re officially part of a ministry team, but many times, they are just humble, righteous community members extending their faith. In Luke [Luke 17:5-10], Jesus extols just such humble service.”
MOVING FORWARD: “Who do you witness living by their faith? Write them a note of thanksgiving today.”