Genesis 50:20 and Habakkuk 3:17-18 are some of the most incredible verses in scripture. Genesis tells the intriguing story of Joseph. He goes from being a somewhat arrogant 17 year old to being sold to slave traders by his brothers (who faked his death). I highly recommend reading the rest of the drama that was his life, beginning in chapter 37. And more towards the end of the Old Testament we find Habakkuk. Hardly anything is known about him, and yet we learn a great deal from three short chapters. He asks some challenging questions of God.
In both of these examples, and countless others (like Daniel, for instance), we find the truest picture of what faith really looks like. It’s a word often thrown around in conversation. But most of the time I find it being misused. (Of course this is just my opinion.) Someone says, “I have faith”. Yet their very actions demonstrate something antithetical to their words. Now please don’t get all buttoned up. (I stole that from a very wise 25 year old young lady that I know.) I’m just challenging all of us. When you say, “I have faith”, what do you mean?
Joseph had a lifetime of one bad story after another. You can’t make this stuff up. It’s crazy! (You did go read it, right?) Yet even though he certainly earned the ability to pout a bit and whine in the corner, he had a much more interesting response. He said, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…….” All the hurt. All the betrayal. All the loss. Everything. God used it all. Joseph had a calling on his life and God was building his character to match his calling (thanks for that idea, Lysa). Without all of the junk, Joseph might not have understood or grasped what God was doing.
Habakkuk spends two chapters asking questions that all of us ask: How long will we cry and you don’t hear? Why do you idly look at wrong and do nothing? He actually sounds like Job, I think. But much the same as God did with Job, God basically says, “Do you know better than I do?” And so, despite all of
the injustice and wrongdoing that was happening, Habakkuk ends with these words: “though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines……yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation”. Basically, this paints a fairly dismal picture. If there isn’t crop this year, that means there won’t be seed for next year either. Yet Habakkuk proclaims that he’s going to rejoice. In other words, he’s going to maintain faith in the God who keeps His promises. Even if tomorrow looks sketchy.
The picture above represents a lot to me. I’m not in a place yet to fully explain. But one day. I know the ONE TRUE GOD who keeps His promises. He hears the deep, gut-wrenching moans that don’t have words. So even though today I don’t have answers. Despite another night of “what if”. Even though I can’t make sense of it all. I WILL trust. I WILL have faith. I WILL believe in His goodness. And I WILL praise Him. No matter what. Even though I don’t understand what He’s doing.