In this passage, God answers Habakkuk’s prayer from v.1-4, but the answer was not what Habakkuk had expected. The answer of God did not solve Habakkuk’s problem.

God did not dispute Habakkuk's charges. God agreed that there was injustice and wide spread wickendess in Israel. But God did not act when Habakkuk wanted Him to act. God sees the affairs of the earth and God will respond, but in his timing. God’s time frame is not our time frame. God is in action even when we cannot see his hand at work directly.

1. Invader Appointed (v. 5-6)
2. Invader Described (v. 7-9)
3. Invader’s Arrogance (v. 10-11)

We begin the Christian life by taking God at His Word concerning His Son, Jesus Christ, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and that we can do nothing in ourselves to earn His salvation. Then we continue living by faith, basing our lives upon God’s Word of truth. Either you are trusting in yourself and your righteousness to get into heaven, which is pride; or, you are trusting solely in what God has done in Jesus Christ.

Faith also trusts God when we do not understand His ways. When evil things happen to us we must trust that God is in charge and that He will reward us and punish the wicked, if not in this life, in eternity. We need to believe that God is in control of history and nothing in this world happens outside of God’s divine design. We may not understand just as Habakkuk did not understand, but the mystery of history is guided by the God of history. 

Getting Started                          

1. Can you remember your first investment as a child or an adult? Was it successful or unsuccessful? Share your story.

Read Habakkuk 1:5-11

2. What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?

Digging Deeper

3. In our passage God answers Habakkuk’s prayer. What does God tell Habakkuk to do in v.5?

4. Note the words for “see,” “look,” and “wonder” in v. 1-11. Where is Habakkuk’s attention? Where is God’s attention?

5. What is God’s answer to Habakkuk’s complaint about injustice in his nation?

The Heart of the Matter

6. The Bible teaches that pride goes before destruction. Pride makes us think that we do not need God. Pride separates us from God. God dealt with Babylon and Israel because of their pride, in His own timing. Habakkuk prophesied about this, but Israel did not listen. Why do you think that preaching repentance from sin is so polarizing for many?

7. Why do you think that today in a civilized prosperous era, with the world’s best health care, with freedom, with plenty of food and other good things, is there still an epidemic of depression? 

8. Can you list 3 helpful points we need to remember when things happen to us which we do not understand that will give us contentment in the situation?