Wait For It

Habakkuk 2:2-3
The Lord answered me: 
Write down the vision;
clearly inscribe it on tablets
so one may easily read it. 
For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
it testifies about the end and will not lie.
Though it delays, wait for it, 
since it will certainly come and not be late. 

Though Habakkuk is comprised of 3 relatively short chapters, it is jam-packed with insight about our walk with God.  Since we are looking at the practice of journaling in June, I want to look at these two verses today.  

Throughout this book we see Habakkuk asking God a lot of questions, and we also see him reminding God of who he is and what he does.  He is very curious about why God is not dealing with all of the appalling things that are happening around him and wonders when God will intervene.  Sound familiar? 

We see a bit of back and forth between Habakkuk and God as they converse with each other.  But these two verses in particular stand out to me.  

The Lord says to Habakkuk - write down the vision.  And then is intentional to say when you write this down be sure to inscribe it clearly so that it will be easy to read.  This makes me think about how the words that Habakkuk was recording weren’t just meant for him, but others would also need to be able to read them later.  I imagine him needing to write the words neatly, while also making sure the ideas are coherent too.  

The Lord goes on to say I’m sharing this information with you, but the time has not yet come when all of this will come to pass.  He is essentially saying I have a plan, but the timing may not match up with what you are asking me to do.  But the Lord reminds him that he will be faithful and that the words he is recording will not be a lie.  

And finally, the Lord tells Habakkuk to wait for the fulfillment of this vision and encourages him that it will not be late, but will happen exactly on time.  

We see that even after this dialogue with God, Habakkuk still has more to say.  I love that we have a small glimpse into the life of this prophet.  We are able to see that he, like us, is looking for answers.  He is expectant that God will rescue his people, but doesn’t understand the delay.  And yet, he feels comfortable boldly declaring his frustrations and his questions, knowing that God is big enough to handle all of it.  

But there is something else significant that we see in the final chapter.  

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk is essentially left waiting to see what will happen.  There isn’t a neat and tidy bow tied on this part of his story.  And yet, what he knows to be true is that he can trust God.  Even when he can’t see the solution, even when the timing doesn’t make sense, even when he doesn’t understand he says I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  

As we take time to record what God is doing in our story may we be reminded that though there may be delays God will come and will not be late!  May we too be able to ask our questions, wrestle with the hard bits of this life, and then say I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  

~  Melissa