“Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish.”
Habakkuk 1:12-13
Verse 5 seems like the perfect place to end the book of Habakkuk. God gave him a message of hope. There’s the promise of deliverance. It’s exactly the kind of message you’d like to hear when confronted with chaos. However, Habakkuk kept arguing. He nagged and begged for some clarity.
Habakkuk wanted an easy answer to a complex problem. God’s answer is not exactly what Israel wanted to hear, though. God replied, “I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwellings not their own” (1:6).
God just dropped the mic. The Almighty was allowing this to unfold to teach Israel something. He’s teaching them a lesson on reliance and obedience. Their conflict was actually a consequence. It wasn’t random; it was a response to their sin. The ancient Hebrews had lost their way and broken God’s law too many times to count, which meant that God was allowing the ramifications of their sin to play out.
This is a tough pill to swallow, but it’s a concept we must address. Sometimes your problems are your fault. Maybe your health is suffering because of your fast food habit. Maybe your finances are a mess because of that car you shouldn’t have bought. Maybe your relationship crumbled because you of your behavior. I am not saying that every bad thing happens as a punishment. Not at all. But sometimes, our bad circumstances are consequences of our bad decisions.
God’s mercy shields you from the consequences of your sin 99.9% of the time, but sometimes He allows harsh lessons in the form of repercussions. It may sound mean, but it’s a good thing. God’s punishment is a version of protection. It’s not to hurt you; it’s to help you.
If you are facing consequences, thank God for them. You heard me right. Praise God for your punishment. It’s an opportunity for you to learn, grow, and develop. Every mistake is an opportunity to mature. Every failure is an opportunity to flourish. You will learn far more from consequences than from mercy. Own up to your failures and allow them to alter your future.