“Wrestling with Doubt in the Face of Evil”

“Wrestling with Doubt in the Face of Evil”

Theodicy is an argument that tries to justify God’s existence in the face of evil.

1 The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

² How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
³ Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
⁴ Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.

The Lord’s Answer

⁵ “Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
⁶ I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwellings not their own.
⁷ They are a feared and dreaded people;
they are a law to themselves
and promote their own honor.
⁸ Their horses are swifter than leopards,
fiercer than wolves at dusk.
Their cavalry gallops headlong;
their horsemen come from afar.
They fly like an eagle swooping to devour;
⁹     they all come intent on violence.
Their hordes  advance like a desert wind
and gather prisoners like sand.
¹⁰ They mock kings
and scoff at rulers.
They laugh at all fortified cities;
by building earthen ramps they capture them.
¹¹ Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—
guilty people, whose own strength is their god.”

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

¹² 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.
¹³ Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
Why are you silent while the wicked
swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
¹⁴ You have made people like the fish in the sea,
like the sea creatures that have no ruler.
¹⁵ The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks,
he catches them in his net,
he gathers them up in his dragnet;
and so he rejoices and is glad.
¹⁶ Therefore he sacrifices to his net
and burns incense to his dragnet,
for by his net he lives in luxury
and enjoys the choicest food.
¹⁷ Is he to keep on emptying his net,
destroying nations without mercy?

2 I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

The Lord’s Answer

² Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.

⁴ “See, the enemy is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness

Habakkuk 1:2-4

Habakkuk 1:2-4 is a powerful passage that speaks to the struggles of faith and theodicy, or the problem of evil. Habakkuk, a prophet in Judah during the 7th century BCE, confronts God with his concerns about the rampant injustice and violence in the world. He questions why God allows such suffering, especially when it seems that the wicked are prospering while the righteous suffer.

In verses 2-4, Habakkuk expresses his bewilderment and frustration. He cries out to God, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? You hear my cry, but do not answer. I shout to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save. Why do you make me see such evil? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are everywhere. The wicked rise up and overpower the righteous. Therefore, justice is perverted, and the law is powerless.”

Habakkuk’s words echo the deep-seated questions and anxieties that many people have grappled with throughout history. Why does evil exist? Why do innocent people suffer? How can a just and loving God allow such injustice?

In the face of these profound questions, Habakkuk does not give up on his faith. He continues to seek God’s presence and to wrestle with the mysteries of life. His story is a reminder that it is okay to struggle with our faith, to question God, and to express our doubts and fears. It is also a testament to the enduring power of hope and the belief that God is ultimately good and just.

As we reflect on Habakkuk’s words, we are invited to consider our own experiences with suffering and injustice. We may be tempted to blame God or to lose faith altogether. But Habakkuk’s example encourages us to persevere, to seek answers, and to trust in God’s love even when we do not understand everything.

We may never fully comprehend the reasons for evil in the world. But we can hold onto the belief that God is working towards a better future, a future where justice and righteousness will prevail. And we can find solace and strength in the community of faith, where we can share our burdens and support one another on our journey.

In conclusion, Habakkuk 1:2-4 is a challenging and thought-provoking passage that speaks to the heart of the human experience. It reminds us of the enduring questions about life and faith, and it encourages us to wrestle with these questions in a spirit of humility and hope. May we be inspired by Habakkuk’s example to persevere in our faith, to seek justice and righteousness, and to trust in the ultimate goodness of God.