Habakkuk 1:12-14

Habakkuk replied to God -- Habakkuk 1:12-14: Habakkuk addressed God on behalf of the people. In this appeal to God he contrasted God's power and purity with what God was doing with the destructive work of the evil Babylonian army. Habakkuk recognized God as holy and also as Lord. He knew that God is eternal. The prophet understood that the nation of Judah would not cease but that they would face severe punishment. They were safe from total destruction because God had promised to bring the Messiah to earth through those people. The Babylonians would be used to correct the evils of the Jews. Habakkuk knew that God can not stand sin and iniquity, even though He sees everything, right or wrong. The prophet is impatient and he wonders how God could sit ideally by while the Babylonians devour a people that are better than they are. The prophet felt that the Jews could easily be destroyed by the Babylonians. They had no strong spiritual leader to guide them, nor did they have a strong defense to protect them. Without the protection of God the people could be as easily be taken captive, just as fish could be caught.