The Mystery of God's Justice Pt. II | Habakkuk 1:5-11

February 9th, 2025

As we continue in Habakkuk, we are confronted with the reality of God’s justice—His ways, though mysterious, are neither passive nor mistaken. Last week, we saw God’s justice as unseen, working beneath the surface, shaping history according to His sovereign will. This week, we see that His justice is unbelievable and unstoppable—executed in ways we would never expect.

The Unbelievable Nature of God’s Justice (v.6-10)

God tells Habakkuk, “For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans” (v.6). This statement demands attention. God was not merely allowing the Chaldeans to rise; He was actively orchestrating their ascent as an instrument of judgment. This is difficult for Habakkuk to process. Like us, Habakkuk would have expected God’s justice to come through deliverance, not through a ruthless enemy.

The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were known for their violent ambition and arrogance. God describes them as “bitter and hasty,” meaning they were ruthless, relentless, and merciless. They devoured nations, plundered cities, and ruled as tyrannical overlords. Their military tactics—like leopards pouncing, wolves in the night, and eagles swooping down—paint a picture of overwhelming aggression. Yet, their rise to power was not because of their own strength, but because God had raised them up for His purposes.

Habakkuk, like us, had to wrestle with this tension. The tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Chaldeans were a wicked people, yet their conquests were not outside of God’s control. He would use their rise to power as a means of their own judgment. This same truth is seen in Acts 2:23—Jesus was crucified by lawless men, yet it was according to the predetermined plan of God.

The Unstoppable Nature of God’s Justice (v.11)

While the Chaldeans appeared invincible, God describes them as temporary, fleeting, and ultimately judged. Their dominion would “sweep through like the wind and pass on” (v.11). Though they seemed unstoppable in the eyes of men, they were merely a tool in God’s hand. Psalm 37:10 reminds us, “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more.”

The Chaldeans, like all worldly powers that exalt themselves, would eventually fall. They made their own strength their god, and because of this, they would be held guilty (Dan. 5). God, in His righteousness, always ensures that evil will never have the final say.

Habakkuk wrestled with a reality that many of us still struggle with today: How can God allow evil to flourish? Why does He use evil to execute justice? Why does righteousness seem so delayed at times? Through this passage, we see that God's justice is not absent—it is mysterious. It is at work even when it is unseen, when we see its nature, it is unbelievable, and when we understand it, we realize it is unstoppable.

Where Does This Lead Us?

The greatest mystery of God’s justice is not seen in His dealings with nations but in the cross of Jesus Christ. When Christ was crucified, the justice of God seemed absent—where was righteousness when the Son of God was condemned as a criminal? The methods of God’s justice seemed unbelievable—how could the death of the Messiah be the means of salvation? Yet, His justice was unstoppable—what seemed like defeat was, in fact, the ultimate triumph. The wicked rulers mocked Christ thinking they had won, but in His resurrection, He proved that God’s justice will always prevail.

God’s justice is not only about judgment—it is about mercy. Paul quotes Habakkuk 1:5 in Acts 13:41, applying it to the gospel: “Look, you scoffers, and be amazed and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells you.” What God is doing as we watch history unfold around us is what we find in Acts 17:30: “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent.”

Nations will rise and fall, but Jesus Christ reigns forever. So let us look, observe, be astonished, and wonder—not only at God’s justice in history but at His justice fulfilled in the cross. And may that wonder lead us to hope in Him.

Discussion Questions for Growth Groups:

1. Habakkuk struggled with the seeming delay of God's justice. How do you respond when you feel like God's justice is slow?
2. What does it mean that God “raises up” nations, even those that are wicked? How does this challenge or strengthen your view of His sovereignty?
3. The Chaldeans relied on their own strength and made it their god (v.11). What are ways people today place their trust in worldly power instead of God?
4. How does the justice of God, though mysterious, bring comfort and assurance to His people?
5. In what areas of your life is God calling you to trust in His justice, even when you do not understand His ways?

May this meditation lead us to stand in awe of His justice and find our confidence in His unshakable reign.

- Selah -