“WHEN TRAGEDY HITS HOME”
Habakkuk 1: 12 - 2:4
News reports on September 11, 2001 portrayed jubilant Palestinians dancing in the streets, handing out candy, and shouting “God is great” as they celebrated the deaths of estimated thousands of Americans as a result of a coordinated and simultaneous hijacking of four American airplanes. Within minutes all four aircrafts, commandeered by terrorists, plunged nose first into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City which houses over fifty thousand workers, into one of the five walls of the Pentagon, and into a field in Pennsylvania while en route to further devastation. Secretary of State Colin Powell commented that this attack was an unmitigated strike against civilization itself.
Further reports indicated that countless numbers of civilians either leaped or were blown from the thirteen hundred and fifty feet high World Trade Center, including one man who rode the rubble downward from the eighty-first floor, and another couple who lost their lives as they leaped hand in hand. Lt. Colonel Oliver North called the dastardly deed an act of war and painted the Pearl Harbor experience of 1941, in which 2403 lives were lost, as meager in comparison. Another Fox News reporter, in referring to the Omaha Beach tragedy in World War II, commented, “At least they knew they were going to war – these people were just going to work!” President Bush promised swift and sure justice and commented, “Today, our nation saw evil.” Christian leader Jerry Falwell was a bit more blunt in his assessment of an appropriate response to the terrorists in saying, “We should blow them away”.
The people of Jerusalem and the prophet Habakkuk had a similar emotional reaction to the invasion of their
homeland by the wicked Chaldeans who were known for their vicious and unconscionable physical and emotional atrocities against any and all enemies. Habakkuk wondered aloud as to why God did not simply employ His divine strength and intervene to stop the bloodshed. As we watch the news reports, similar questions linger in our thoughts as well. What do we do now? Underground reports include the unfortunate beating of an Arab at the hands of four southerners welding tire tools. Anger demands actions of some kind and emotions often amuck.
Why did God not stop the bloodshed before it began? Why do evil men punish those who desire to recognize the existence of a Holy God? Habakkuk wanted answers - and America want answers and wants them now.
I. WHEN TRAGEGY HITS HOME WE MAY ALWAYS QUESTION GOD’S FAIRNESS
Knowing the sure guarantee of an enormous loss of life at the hands of the wicked Chaldeans, Habakkuk began to rehearse his faith before God and plead with God to act in a manner consistent with His nature. He reminded God that He was “from everlasting…my God, my Holy One” (1: 12). Surely a holy and loving God would protect His people, Habakkuk would reason.
The vicious Chaldeans were known to ransack cities and haul away their enemies with fish hooks plunged into the jaws of their prisoners. They utilized nets to capture their opponents and haul them like fish pulled in from the sea. Terror filled the land and Habakkuk had a rather cheeky and direct talk with his God. He further reasoned that God was a God “whose eyes are too pure to approve evil” (1: 13). Yet God gave no direct indication that the Chaldeans would be annihilated thus ending the pain and anguish of the people of God. Strangely, God appears in Habakkuk to be utilizing the wicked forces of evil to pursue a greater purpose in the lives of His chosen people. Although unwelcome words, God responded, “Look……..be astonished……….because I am doing something in your days, you would not believe it if you were told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans” (1: 5). Strange words, indeed, which serve as cold comfort in the midst of our tragedy as Americans.
The irritating issue of the fairness of God always involves our desire to understand why evil seems to prosper, why wicked men live in lavish wealth, and why prosperity and fame seem to fall on the arrogant and unbelieving while often ignoring the righteous and leaving them in the jaws of personal heartache.
II. WHEN TRAGEDY HITS HOME WE MAY BE ATTEMPTED TO ASSUME THAT GOD ENDORSES EVIL
Essentially, Habakkuk prodded God by questioning whether He had endorsed the workers of evil and in so doing violated His very nature. “Why are you silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?” Habakkuk wailed to God(1: 13). He feared the worse and knew that the physical devastation to the residents of Jerusalem would be unprecedented and would alter life as they knew it. Why the pain and anguish? Could not God accomplish His purposes in a less frightening and painful way? Answers would gradually surface yet the tension in their souls would remain indefinitely and their vulnerability, and ours as well, continued to be experienced.
Certainly most would agree that our Lord has not hatched a sinister plot and acquired the services of terrorists to punish and pound America into a desired form of submission. Evil men have responded with evil acts to take the lives of innocent civilians. An appropriate act of retaliation on the grounds of the theory of just war is certainly appropriate and must be pursued as a deterrent to further and greater acts of evil.
Habakkuk further questioned God as to the duration of the evil acts, which were to be inflicted upon his people. Habakkuk demanded an answer by saying, “will they slay continually slay nations without sparing?”(1:17). How long will this lunacy last was Habakkuk’s essential question. So determined to hear directly from God, Habakkuk positioned himself emotionally and perhaps physically, as a guard on duty on the wall of a city, watching for approaching travelers. He wanted answers. As Americans under attack and our security shaken, we do as well.
III. WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES HOME WE MAY WAIT FOR AN ANSWER
After announcing to God that he would stand as a watch guard at attention and in waiting, Habakkuk began to hear from God. God informed Habakkuk that the “vision” to be given must be written and inscribed on tablets that the “one who reads it may run.”(2: 2). Scholars debate the meaning of such a vague phrase but many suggest that the reference was to the ancient Middle Eastern custom of runners carrying important messages through the streets of the city shouting the contents for all to hear. In any regard, God wanted the vision widely distributed.
“Though it tarries, wait for it”, God instructed (2: 3). However, the message God intended did not deter the upcoming invasion of the Chaldeans which stripped the land of its economic viability and sent God’s people into a season of turmoil. Wait they did because they had no other choice. Seek justice, wait and pray, is a good word for us today!
IV. WHEN TRAGEDY HITS HOME WE MUST SEEK GOD’S FACE
God’s ultimate purpose is for His people to turn from lives that are dependent upon and proud of our own human ingenuity to lives of humble submission to Him. Wicked men have souls that are “proud” and “not right within them”, God explains (2:4).In contrast, righteous men live, breath, and are sustained on the “faith” that is our only reliable source. God has not promised believers or nations lives without pain and tragedy but has promised a hand to hold on to as we walk through the tragedies of the human experience.
The writer of Hebrews gave fulfillment to the “it” in verse four, referring to the upcoming explanation from God, by informing us that He, meaning Jesus himself, is the ultimate answer that we need (Hebrews 10:38). Although we seek rationale explanations and desperately crave emotional and physical relief as our answers, God reminds us that the ultimate answer in reality is a person – the Lord himself.
The story is told of an eight-year old girl named Julie who was in a hospital waiting room as her older brother clung to his life in an adjoining room. Dr. Kirby emerged with a stern look on his face and chatted with the parents for a few moments. He informed them that blood was needed immediately and that Julie was the likely donor. They agreed and Dr. Kirby kneeled down to discuss the matter with Julie. After a few silent moments for reflection, Julie nodded her head giving approval for her blood to be drawn and given to her brother. As she lay on the table with needles protruding from her arm, she asked Dr. Kirby, “Dr. Kirby, when do I die?” She mistakenly believed that the giving of her blood would lead to her death – but agreed to give it anyway. That’s sacrifice. Jesus gave His blood for us – and died in our place.
With that magnitude of love for us in mind, we as Americans must remind ourselves that our dependency is upon Him. We are vulnerable and sometimes stripped of security. We are not invincible. We must humble ourselves and seek His face.
Today, we grieve together and shudder with fear, yet He is the ultimate answer to whatever questions we may have.
Reprinted with permission from Today’s Pulpit, Dr. David Sylvester, Editor, P.O. Box 51499, Amarillo, TX 79159
(800) 818-1805, www.todayspulpit.com
