Arguing with God
Habakkuk 2:18-20
My brother lives on a small island in the middle of the Caribbean for work. I know; it sounds like quite the job perk. Every morning he eats breakfast on a balcony overlooking the Caribbean Ocean. His soundtrack is crashing waves and tropical birds chirping. The backdrop is turquoise blue water, jagged mountain cliffs, and snow-white sand as far as the eye can see. It sounds picturesque, doesn’t it? It certainly was for him — at first.
Something weird happened after living on the island for seven months. He stopped noticing it. Whenever people visit, they always say, “this is so beautiful; it’s like you live inside of a postcard!” He shrugs and says, “you get used to it.” His sentiment is not uncommon; it’s a phenomenon called Island Fever. People become blind to the islands’ beauty, feel claustrophobic from the tight space, and experience disconnectedness from the outside world. After living on the island for over a year, the beauty has seemed to decrease.
This happens to all of us. It is the same reason why you don’t always notice the autumn leaves in your backyard, the stream that you drive past every day, or the Dollar General in the field by your aunt’s house. As we become more familiar with something, we also get more underwhelmed. Awareness can lead to indifference.
It’s true with our surroundings, but it is also true in our spiritual lives. This is why God snapped His fingers and told Habakkuk, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (2:14). God settled the argument with a reality check about His greatness in contrast to our smallness.
Don’t allow familiarity with God to create indifference for God’s glory. In this passage, God says that the whole earth is going to be blown away by His unmatched majesty. His splendor is bigger than all the oceans put together. Don’t become numb to it.
Everything beautiful around you was designed with God’s glory in mind. From puppies to Mount Everest to pancakes to the Caribbean Ocean. Everything good points us to God. Next time you’re outside, examine everything like a kid doing a science fair project. All of it was custom-made for your enjoyment and God’s glory.
God’s glory is all around you. Don’t overlook it.