Get Understanding

Hab. 1:¹³ But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?

Prophet Habakkuk was one of Daniel’s contemporaries. Habakkuk was part of the families that were taken to Babylon and he struggled to understand God’s judgement. Israel is God’s people, yes, they had done wrong, but they were still better than the Babylonians. Sometimes when you read scriptures, we think that the prophets or the people that walked with God did not have struggles. Sometimes, we think that the prophets did not ask God tough questions. But the truth is that they did. In reality, you really cannot walk with God if you do not resolve tough questions. Habakkuk had to resolve this tough question. Have you had such struggles and how did you deal with them?

Both Habakkuk and Daniel learnt that God’s justice can always be trusted. Most times, we do not understand God’s justice and God’s judgement. We do not understand fully why God does what He does and how He does it. But He is all together righteous. Dan.2:¹⁹ “…Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. ²⁰ He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. ²¹ He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. ²² He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.”

These scriptures show us how Daniel and his friends were able to accept their circumstances without becoming angry or bitter at their predecessors or at God. Daniel acknowledged that there is a God in heaven; “they that come to God must believe that He is and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”. If you pay close attention to how Daniel praised God and prayed, you can tell that it was easy for him to accept what God was doing and the path God was taking him through. When you know God to be full of wisdom and power, if it takes you through a path that you do not understand, it is easier to obey because you know that He is full of wisdom and power.

“He controls the course of world events”, what Daniel was saying in essence is, king Nebuchadnezzar cannot just come and bully God’s people. When we know God and understand that He is full of wisdom and full of power, and that He orchestrates the course of events. When we understand that everything works together for good for those that love God and are called according to His purpose. We are better equipped to deal with the things we do not understand.

Prayer: [song]: To You I give all the praise (2x), let my life be used for Your glory, to You I give all the praise. Amen!